Abstract:
A system including modular components by which the system may be configured and reconfigured easily and quickly for the shelving or the storage of merchandise for the retail industry and other applications as needed and without the need for tools and conventional removable fastening means. The modular system includes a generally horizontal base and at least one vertical panel that can be easily and quickly releasably secured in one or other positions relative to the base. Preferred embodiments of the system include those having a base having securement apertures structured such that the vertical panel or panels may be releasably secured to the base without the need for conventional removable mechanical fasteners and tools and so that even an unskilled individual can quickly and easily arrange and rearrange the vertical panels relative to the base in a wide variety of possible useful configurations.

Description:
This application is based on and claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/108,727 filed on Nov. 17, 1998. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The subject invention relates to a system for shelving and/or storing. More particularly, the invention relates to a relatively lightweight and simplified modular system that includes components by which the system may be configured and reconfigured easily and quickly for the shelving or the storage of merchandise for the retail industry and other applications as needed and without the need for tools and conventional removable fastening means. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A variety of apparatus and systems are known for the shelving and/or storage of an item or items such as for retail sale to the public. Many of such apparatus and systems include components such that the system can be arranged in only a single or a limited number of configurations. Characteristically such systems use one or more vertical standards or panels that are maintained in a vertical position by fixing the standard to a wall or to the floor through conventional fastening means—such as bolts, nuts, screws, snap buttons, or other types of mechanical fasteners. Some such conventional systems include a base unit to maintain the vertical standards or panels in a vertical position. Typically, the vertical standards or panels are fixed to the base unit such as by welding or secured to the base unit by the receipt of a portion or portions of the vertical standards or panels into a one of a limited number of positions along the base unit and the fastening of the portions into the positions in the base by conventional removable fasteners. Bolts and nuts, screws, and snap buttons are just some of the many known removable mechanical fasteners typically used to secure the vertical standards or panels to a base unit or hold the components in position. Tools such as screwdrivers—powered or otherwise—and wrenches are commonly used to engage, tighten, or otherwise operate the conventional fastening means until tightened or otherwise held in place. Vertical units may be fixed to a base in known systems also by nonremovable means such as by the welding or other permanent means of attachment. The vertical standards of such conventional systems characteristically supports one or only a limited number of types of display or shelving hardware such as shelves and/or bracket/shelf combinations in a limited number of positions relative to the vertical units. 
     A number of disadvantages are associated with the conventional shelving/storage systems. Overall, the components of each of these systems are sized, shaped, and structured such that the system can be arranged in only a very limited number of configurations. This is particularly true of conventional systems that utilize vertical standards that must be secured to a wall for support and those that are secured to a base that provides only a limited number of securing points. Conventional shelving/storage systems that require the use fasteners to fix the components of the system relative to each other are also disadvantageous in that such systems are relatively more costly to produce. This is, in part, due to the increased amount of material and processing cost to make the fastening pieces but also due to the increased amount of labor needed to ensure that the system has the proper number and variety of fasteners before the system is packaged and sold to consumers. Shelving/storage systems having components that must be secured to each other with the use of tools are overall more costly also because the manufacturer must provide such tools with the system or the consumer must purchase the tools in order to assemble the system. When the cost of the labor needed to construct and reconfigure such multiple fastener systems is considered, the overall cost to employ such conventional systems increases. The actual labor cost depends upon the complexity of the system, the number of fasteners that are used to secure the components together, and whether skilled or unskilled individuals attempt to configure or reconfigure the system. Conventional systems that use multiple fasteners to secure the system together are additionally disadvantageous in that a suitably reliable storage place must be found to accommodate all of the fasteners and tools when the system is disassembled. The loss of any of fastener or tool that is unique to the system typically prevents the system from being reconstructed as before. 
     A demand therefore exists for a shelving/storage system that includes components by which the system may be configured and reconfigured easily and quickly by even a generally unskilled individually without the need for conventional fastening means or tools. The present invention satisfies this demand. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a modular shelving/storage system including components by which the system may be configured easily and quickly as needed without the use of conventional separable mechanical fasteners and generally without the need for any tools. 
     Specifically, the new system includes a generally horizontal base and at least one vertically-aligned panel that can be easily and quickly releasably secured in one or other positions relative to the base. Preferred embodiments of the system include those having a base structured such that the vertical panel or panels can be releasably secured to the base without the need for conventional separable mechanical fasteners and tools and so that even an unskilled individual can quickly and easily arrange and rearrange the vertical panels relative to the base in a wide variety of possible useful configurations. 
     One preferred embodiment of the system includes a base having at least one set of apertures that open through the upper surface of the base generally adjacent to the upper base edge, each aperture of which is sized and shaped to receive and releasably secure an extension of a lower end of a post of an outer panel. Other embodiments of the base include additional sets of post apertures such that one or more additional outer panels may be releasably secured to upper surface of the base. The base may include also at least two sets of opposing bracket slots—aligned generally adjacent to but spaced from opposing upper edges of the base, each slot of which is sized and shaped to accommodate and secure without the use of known fasteners or tools a portion or the entire lower bracket of one of the other vertical panels of the system, an inner panel. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the system includes a base includes having one set of post apertures that open through the upper surface of the base generally adjacent to the upper base edge and an outer vertical panel having lower end post extensions, each extension of which is sized and shaped to be quickly and easily inserted into each post aperture so that the entire outer vertical panel is releasably secured to the upper surface of the base and the broad face of the panel is generally near or parallel to the upper edge of the base. 
     A related preferred embodiment includes a base having at least one set of post apertures—that open generally adjacent to one upper base edge and sized and shaped to receive the lower end post extensions from an outer vertical panel—, at least two sets of opposing base bracket slots—one set of which is positioned inward from the position of the post apertures and the other set of which is positioned inward from the opposing base edge position of the other of the post apertures—, an outer vertical panel that can be releasably secured to the base near the upper base edge through the receipt of lower end post extensions of the outer panel in the post apertures, and an inner vertical panel—sized and shaped and having a bracket extending from each opposing lower edge surface of the inner panel such that each panel can be releasably secured to and can form a vertical surface above the upper surface of the base when the brackets of the vertical panel are inserted into the base bracket slots. The inner panel may thereby be releasably secured to the base in a position relative to the outer panel such as generally perpendicular to the broad face of the outer vertical panel by receipt of the inner vertical panel brackets in the bracket slots to form, for example, a “T” or a “L”-like configuration. Sets of base bracket slots may open in alignment through the base face adjacent to at least two opposing upper base edges allows one or more inner panels to be secured generally at any position perpendicular or parallel to an outer panel. To further releasably secure an inner panel to an outer panel, the outer vertical panel of this embodiment may include a set of panel bracket slots opening through the upper edge of the outer panel that are sized and shaped to receive an upper bracket that extends from the upper edge of the inner vertical panel. 
     An additional embodiment of the present invention includes an inner panel that largely is not of the same vertical height as the outer panel or other inner panels and including a bracket arm from the end of which extends a bracket sized and shaped to be releasably secured in the panel bracket slots opening through the upper edge of the outer panel. The above embodiments may include additional components such as one or more additional inner panels that largely are not of the same horizontal length as the other inner panels and may include lower brackets that may be releasably secured to bracket slots within the base and an upper bracket that may be releasably secured to another vertical panel such as an outer panel by receipt of a portion of the upper bracket within panel bracket slots opening within the upper edge of the vertical panels. As a group, the vertical panels—that is, the outer panels and the inner panels—may be configured advantageously, for example, also such that an inner space is thereby defined in which a merchandise or other animate or inanimate objects may be housed, stored, or displayed. The system may include vertical panels having a shelving/storage construction that can accommodate display or shelving hardware such as shelves and/or bracket/shelf combinations or other horizontal support spaces easily and in a wide variety of positions thereby increasing the versatility of the system. Other components include one or more horizontal units that are easily attachable to the vertical panels to form shelves or other horizontal support spaces. The base may include wheels—such as swivel castor wheels placed generally at the four corners—to facilitate the movement of the base. 
     Overall, the components of the display system preferably have a construction so that the components and thereby the shelving/storage system may be relatively light in weight and easier to move as a result. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a shelving/storage system that includes components that are sized and shaped and have a construction such that a wide variety of shelving and/or storage configurations may be easily and quickly arranged, thereby increasing the system&#39;s versatility. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a shelving/storage system which includes a base having a construction such that one or more vertical panels may be quickly attached and detached and positioned at any of a number of positions relative to the base. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelving/storage system that includes a base and one or more vertical panels having a construction such that the vertical panel or panels may be releasably secured to the base without the need for known fasteners or tools and quickly even by the untrained or unskilled. 
     An added object of the present invention is to provide a shelving/storage system that includes vertical panels having different vertical heights and/or horizontal lengths and of a construction that allow the panels to be positioned in a number configurations such that a wide variety of shelving support spaces or storage spaces may be thereby defined. 
     These, together with other objects, features, and advantages will subsequently become apparent and reside in the details of the construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like part throughout. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the base of the system according to the present invention showing certain principal components thereof. 
     FIG. 1A is a detail of the base shown in FIG. 1 showing base bracket slots and partially in phantom a portion of a base support. 
     FIG. 1B is a detail of the base shown in FIG. 1 showing a base support and also a post aperture adjacent to which a shaped aperture element is attached to the inner surface of the vertical wall of the base. 
     FIG. 1C is a detail of the base shown in FIG. 1 showing also a post aperture that opens through the upper surface of the base adjacent to the edge of the base along one of its walls and adjacent to which a shaped aperture element is attached to the inner vertical wall surface. 
     FIG. 2 is an overhead view of the base shown in FIG.  1  and further illustrating in phantom corner base supports fixed adjacent to the corner and linear base supports fixed to the upper wall inner surfaces of the base to provide additional lightweight support to the base. 
     FIG. 2A is a cross sectional side view of the embodiment of the base shown in FIG.  1  and FIG. 2 showing the base supports and shaped aperture elements and the open base undersurface construction. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the system according to the present invention and including a base having sets of post apertures and opposing sets of base bracket slots and an outer panel having posts that include end extensions sized and shaped to be received in a set of the post apertures such that the outer panel may be releasably secured to the upper surface of the base. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an additional embodiment of the present invention including a base having one opposing set of base bracket slots and sets of post apertures, two outer panels, each of which is releasably secured near opposing upper edges of the base, and an inner panel secured by receipt of its base brackets into the base slots and its upper brackets received into upper edge bracket slots of each of the outer panels to form a broadened “H” configuration. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention including two opposing sets of base bracket slots and sets of post apertures, an outer panel releasably secured near the center of the upper surface of the base, and a partial inner panel secured by receipt of its lower brackets into the base slots and an upper bracket into a upper edge bracket slots of the outer panel to form a “T” configuration. 
     FIG. 5A is a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG.  5  and showing the receipt of an upper bracket extending from the partial inner panel and whose engaging components are inserted into upper edge bracket slots in the outer panel. 
     FIG. 5B is a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG.  5  and showing the receipt of engaging components of the lower base bracket of the inner panel into base bracket slots. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention including opposing sets of base bracket slots and sets of post apertures positioned adjacent to the corners of the base, two outer panels each of which is releasably secured near opposing edges of the upper surface of the base, and two inner panels each of which is secured by receipt of the engaging components of the base brackets into the base slots and of their upper brackets into upper edge bracket slots of the outer panels to form an inner space configuration. 
     FIG. 6A is a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG.  6  and showing the engaging components of the upper bracket of an inner panel positioned over and for receipt in the upper bracket slots of an outer panel. 
     FIG. 6B is a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 in which an inner panel is positioned generally flush with and perpendicular to an outer panel and showing the lower bracket of an inner panel positioned over and for receipt in the base bracket slots and the extension of the post of the outer panel positioned over a post aperture for releasable securement therein. 
     FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention including a base—having one opposing set of base bracket slots, sets of post apertures adjacent to each corner of the base, and caster wheels for receipt in the lower portion of the base—, two outer panels, inner panels—one of which is of a shortened vertical height and including bracket arms at the end of each of which is a bracket that can be releasably secured to the outer panel by receipt of the upper bracket into the upper edge slots—, and a shelf that can be secured to the broad face of one of the vertical panels. 
     FIG. 8A is a perspective view of an embodiment of the upper bracket extending from an upper edge of an inner panel. 
     FIG. 8B is a perspective view of an embodiment of the lower bracket partially in phantom extending from a lower edge of an inner panel. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     A modular shelving/storage system according to the present invention is generally designated in the Figures by reference numeral  21 . The system  21  is modular in that it is formable from a combination of one or more vertical panels  61  and a base  22 , the base  22  having a construction such that a panel or panels  61  may be quickly and easily attached to the base without the need for screwdrivers, wrenches, pliers, or other such conventional tools and screws, bolts, nuts, or other such conventional mechanical attachment means. To further facilitate ease in configuring and reconfiguring the system  21  as needed and to keep the overall cost of manufacturing the system  21  down, the components of the system  21  are preferably of a simplified, lightweight construction. The base  22  will be described first. 
     Base  22  includes surrounding generally vertical base walls  23  and a dominant horizontally-aligned base wall  25 . The juncture of the vertical base walls  23  and the horizontal base wall  25  forms an upper horizontal base edge  24 . Preferably, the vertical base walls  23  and the horizontal base wall  25  are of a simplified monoplanar construction that may be formed by cutting and/or shaping a single sheet or sheets of metal and bending the sheet and joining—such as by welding—a plurality of sheet components together to form a base  22  such that the base  22  can adequately support and distribute the weight of items placed on it over a sufficient area and allow the one or more vertical panels  61  to be releasably secured to it in many configurations without tipping over. The preferred simplified construction of the base  22  advantageously also provides a generally open and uncluttered base undersurface space  22 B that helps to keep the overall weight and cost of the base  22 , and thereby the system  21  low and overall facilitates the use and maintenance of the system  21 . 
     To further help maintain the structural integrity and shape of the base  22 —even when a load is placed on it—yet not greatly increase the overall weight of the base  22 , the base  22  may include one or more base supports  31 . Preferred embodiments of the base supports  31  are those that can be carried below the surfaces  23 A,  25 A of the base  22  and/or are attached to or formed from the inner surfaces  23 B and/or  25 B such that the base undersurface remains generally open and free of clutter and light in weight. Such supports  31  are advantageous in that the upper surfaces  23 A,  25 A of the base remain also uncluttered and, as a result, the base  22 , and overall the system  21  may be rapidly configured and reconfigured and the cleanliness and appearance of which may be easily maintained. 
     One preferred embodiment of the base support  31 , a linear support  33 , is of a size and shape such that the support  33  can be attached to and extend from one inner vertical wall surface  23 B to another inner surface  23 B and/or be attached to the inner horizontal wall surface  25 B of the base  22 . The embodiment of the linear support  33  illustrated in FIGS. 1,  1 A, and  2 A is aligned along a single general axis and includes opposing ends  34 A,  34 B—by which the linear support  33  may be fixed to the inner vertical base wall surfaces  23 B—and flattened support strips  36 A,  35 B—by which the linear support  33  may be fixed, such as also by welding, to the inner horizontal base wall surface  25 B. The embodiment of the base  22  illustrated in FIGS. 1,  1 A, and  2 A includes two linear supports  33 , each of which is attached are their ends  34 A,  34 B to the inner surface  23 B of the vertical walls  23  and by their support strips  35   a ,  35 B to inner surface  25 B of the horizontal base wall  25 , such that linear supports  33  extend generally parallel to each other and adjacent to a mid-portion  22 C of the base  22  in order to provide added strength to the base  22 . While the linear support  33  may be formed according to a variety of methods, the embodiment of the linear support  33  illustrated in FIGS. 1,  1 A, and  2 A is formed by shaping—such as by bending—material—such as a thickened sheet of metal—to provide the illustrated widened U-shape. A linear support  33  formed in this way and having such construction is lightweight, yet strong. The linear supports  33  of the illustrated embodiment are attached to the base  22  after the base is largely formed and the apertures (discussed in greater detail below) are opened through the wall  25 . 
     Another preferred embodiment of the support  31  that the system  21  may include to maintain the structural integrity and shape of the base  22  is a corner support  37 . The corner support  37  is of a size and shape such that the support  37  can be attached to and extend from one inner vertical wall surface  23 B to another inner surface  23 B and/or be attached at and/or adjacent to the base inner corner edge  26 B. 
     The embodiment of the corner support  37  illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2A is of a monoplanar construction and triangular in shape and includes a surrounding edge wall  38  by a portion of which the corner support  37  is fixed to the inner vertical base wall surfaces  23 B—such as by welding—and at and adjacent to the base inner corner edge  26 B. The embodiment of the base  22  illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  2 A includes four corner supports  37 , each of which is fixed—such as by welding the surrounding edge wall  38  to a lower portion of the inner surfaces  23 B at and adjacent to the base inner corner edge  26 B. Such support provides added strength to the base  22  at the corner edges  26 —such as to help keep the base walls  23 ,  25  “square” and the edges  26  from being dented or buckling such as during movement of the base. While the corner support  37  may be formed according to a variety of methods, the embodiment of the linear support  37  illustrated in FIGS. 1,  1 A, and  2 A is formed by shaping—such as by cutting material—such as a thickened sheet of metal—to provide the illustrated triangular shape. A linear support  33  formed in this way and having such construction is lightweight, yet strong. 
     Base  22  includes a plurality of panel securement apertures  41  by which one or more vertical panels  61  may be releasably secured to the base  22  without the need for conventional separate mechanical fasteners or tools. Panel securement apertures  41  include post apertures  42 , each of which is sized and shaped to provide an inner surface  42 B that corresponds to the outer surface  115 A of the lower portion  115  of a post  67  extending from a vertical panel  61  such that at least the lower portion  115  may be slidably inserted into and through the aperture  42 . While each post aperture  42  is shaped to correspond to the shape of the outer surface  115 A of the post  67  to be inserted therethrough and, accordingly, may be rectangular, circular, or any other suitable shape, the illustrated embodiments of the bases  22  include post apertures  42  having an inner surface  42 B that is non-circular in shape. Such a shape corresponds to the shape of the outer surface  115 A of the post extensions  115  of the illustrated embodiments of the vertical panels  61  and further advantageously prevents the post  67 , and thereby the panel  61  to which the post is connected from twisting or torquing. Apertures  42  may be formed in the base  22  according to a number of methods—such as cutting or punching through the thickened sheet of metal from which the base horizontal wall  25  is formed—and are spaced apart according to the spacing of the corresponding post extensions  115 . 
     Additional panel securement apertures  41  that the base  22  may include and that facilitate the securement of one or more vertical panels  61  to the base  22  without conventional mechanical fasteners or tools include one or more base slots  45 . Each base slot  45  is sized and shaped to correspond to the outer surface  121 A of a portion of or largely the entire lower bracket  121  (discussed in greater detail below) extending from a vertical panel  61  such that at least the corresponding portion of the outer surface  121 A of the bracket  121  may be slidably inserted into and through and releasably secured to the slot  45 . While each slot  45  is shaped to correspond to the size and shape of the outer surface  121 A of the lower bracket  121  to be inserted therethrough and, accordingly, may be rectangular, circular, or any other suitable shape, embodiments of the base slots  45  that are non-circular in shape also prevent the twisting or torquing of the brackets  121  and the panel or panels  61  from which the brackets extend. The illustrated base slots  45  are rectangular in cross section and have an inner surface  45 B that is sized to provide a depth (not shown) that is sufficient to receive and releasably secure a lower slot engaging component  123  of the base bracket  121  without the need for a complex housing such as a rail or other structure. As with the post apertures  42 , the base slots  45  may be formed in the base  22  according to a number of methods—such as cutting or punching through the thickened sheet of metal from which the base horizontal wall  25  is formed—and are spaced apart according to the spacing of the corresponding brackets  121 . 
     Base  22  may include shaped aperture elements  43  to facilitate the releasable securement and support of one or more vertical panels  61  to the base  22  without the need for conventional separate mechanical fasteners or tools. Shaped aperture elements  43  may very in size and shape according to the position of the aperture  41  through the base wall  25 . One embodiment of the element  43  is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1B. The element  43 C is shaped to be received adjacent to a corner post aperture  42 C the inner corner edge  26 B of the base  22  and in those embodiments having such component, above the corner support  37 . The illustrated embodiment of the element  43 C is shaped further to provide two attachment faces  43 A,  43 B—by which the element may be attached to the inner faces  23 B of the base  22 —and two support faces  44 A,  44 B—which in combination with the inner faces  23 B of the base wall  23 , can facilitate the support of the lower portion  115  of a post  67  extending from a vertical panel  61  by the slidable insertion of at least the lower portion  115  of the post  67  into and through the aperture  42 C positioned adjacent to the base corner  26 . Another embodiment of the element  43  is illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1C. The element  43 S is shaped to facilitate the support of a post extension  115  in an aperture  42 S opening through the base  22  away from the inner corner edge  26 B. The illustrated embodiment of the element  43 S is U-shaped and includes two attachment faces  43 A,  43 B—by which the element may be attached to the inner faces  23 B of the base  22 —and three support faces  44 A,  44 B,  44 C—which in combination with the inner face  23 B of the base wall  23 , can facilitate the support of the lower portion  115  of a post  67  extending from a vertical panel  61  by the slidable insertion of at least the lower portion  115  of the post  67  into and through the aperture  42 S. Each element  43  is preferably shaped to correspond to the shape of the outer surface  115 A of the post  67  to be inserted through the aperture  42  and, accordingly, maybe rectangular, circular, or any other suitable shape. The illustrated embodiments of the elements  43  have non-circular faces to further prevent the twisting or torquing of the post  67  and panel  61 . Elements  43  may be formed according to a number of methods—such as cutting and shaping, such as through bending, thickened sheet metal to provide an element  43  of the desired shape. 
     The system  21  includes at least one vertical panel  61 . Additional embodiments of the system  21  may include one or more additional outer panels  71  and/or one or more inner panels  81 . Each vertical panel  61  of the system  21  includes opposing broad faces  62 , an upper edge  63 , lower edge  65 , side edges  66 , and panel securement means  111  by which each panel  61  is releasably engageable to the base  22  quickly and easily and without the need for tools and screws, bolts, nuts, or other conventional mechanical attachment means such that the panel or panels  61  can form generally a vertical surface above the base wall  25 . 
     The embodiments of the vertical panels  61  illustrated in the Figures include a lintel  64  that generally defines the upper edge  63  and posts  67  on either side that generally define the side edges  66  of the vertical panels  61 . The lintel includes ends  64 A,  64 B by which the lintel  64  is fixed—such as by welding—to the two vertical posts  67 . The lintel  64 , as well the posts  67  may be formed from a variety of constructions. Advantageously, a lintel  64  and posts  67  having a tubular construction allow the overall weight and manufacturing cost of each panel  61  and thereby the entire system to be kept low without greatly reducing the weight bearing capacity of the panels  61 . Secured to and extending between the lintel  64  and the posts  67 , the panels  61  may include a variety of shelving/storage constructions  62 A by which the shelving, display, and/or storage of merchandise or other animate or inanimate objects are facilitated. Such shelving/storage constructions  62 A include a slatwall construction—such as that made from wood, a laminate, metal such as aluminum, or plastic—, a grid or grill pattern, or other decorative or functional structure by which other components may be easily and quickly attached to the panel  61  or on or by which other components may be displayed. 
     The preferred panel securement means  111  are those that allow each panel  61  to be releasably secured to the base  22  through the slidable insertion of a portion of the means  111  into the panel securement apertures  41 . The means  111  by which the outer panel  71  is releasably securable to the base  22  in the illustrated embodiments is preferably different from the means  111  by which the inner panel  81  is releasably securable to the base  22 . 
     The illustrated embodiments of the outer panel  71  is sized and shaped to extend generally across and perpendicular to the base upper surface  25 A such that, when the panel  71  is releasably secured to the base  22 , panel side surface  66 A of one edge  66  of the panel  71  is generally vertically flush with one edge  24  of the base and the panel side surface  66 A of an opposing edge  66  of the panel  71  is generally flush with the opposing edge  24  of the base  22 . The panel securement means  111  of each outer vertical panel  71  facilitates such attachment. The panel securement means  111  of each outer vertical panel  71  includes a post extension  115  that projects from each of the lower edge corners  65 C of the panel  71 . In the illustrated embodiments of the outer panels  71 , each post extension  115  is an integral vertical extension of the posts  67  below the lower edge  65  of the base. Each post extension  115  includes a extension surface  115 A sized and shaped to correspond to the inner surface  42 B of the post aperture  42  such that the extension  115  may be slidably inserted in and thereby is releasably engageable with a post aperture  42  opening through the surface  25 A of the base  22 . While each post  67  may be of a variety of shapes, the extension  115  of such post  67  is preferably non-circular in shape so that advantageously the post, and thereby the panel  71  to which the post is connected cannot easily twist or torque. With the post extensions  115  of a outer vertical panel  71  inserted in post apertures  42  that are positioned generally adjacent to the base edges  24 , the outer panel  71  extends across the base surface  25 A from base edge  24  to an opposing base edge  24 . 
     In addition to additional one or more outer panels  71 , the system  21  may include one or more inner vertical panels  81 . The illustrated embodiments of the inner panel  81  are preferably sized and shaped to extend generally across much of the surface  25 A such that, when the panel  81  is releasably secured to the base  22 , the edges  66  of the panel  81  are spaced away and generally inward from the edges  24  of the base  22  to provide a gap  25 G. Embodiments of the system  21  may include vertical panels  61  that may extend across only a partial portion of the surface  25 A such that at least one of the edges  66  of the panel  81  is at a greater distance from the base edge  24  than  25 G. FIG. 5 shows an inner panel  81  having a size such that one side edge  66  of the panel  81  may be positioned generally adjacent to the base edge  24  and the opposing side edge  66  is positioned generally adjacent to the midway portion  22 C of the base. The panel securement means  111  by which each inner vertical panel  81  may be attached to the base  22  includes a lower bracket  121  projecting from a lower end  68  of each of the opposing vertical posts  67  of the inner panel  81 . The lower bracket  121  may be formed, for example, such as by cutting or otherwise shaping material so that at least one portion of the bracket  121  is sized and has a surface  121 A shaped to be received in and thereby releasably secured to one or more slots  45  in the base  22 . The illustrated embodiment of the inner panel  81  includes lower brackets each of which may be formed by cutting thickened sheet metal to provide a blank having separate lower slot engaging components  123 . The blank is bent and attached—such as by welding—to the lower end  68  of the post  67  so that the lower slot engaging components  123  are generally parallel to and flush with the edge  66  of the panel  81 . While each engaging component  123  of each bracket  121  has a surface  123 A is shaped generally to correspond to the size and shape of the inner surface  45 B of the slots  45  and, accordingly, may be rectangular, circular, or any other suitable shape, the illustrated embodiments of the engaging components  123  have a rectangular shaped outer surface  123 A. An engaging component  123  of such a non-circular shape received in a post aperture  45  having a corresponding size and shape advantageously generally prevents the twisting or torquing of the brackets  121  and the panel  81  from which the bracket  121  extends. 
     The inner panel  81  shown in the illustrated embodiments of the system  21  includes is sized and shaped such that, when the bracket components  123  of the panel  81  are inserted into the base bracket slots  45 , a gap  25 G forms between the side edges  66  of the panel  81  and the base edge  24  that is generally sufficient in size to accommodate the edge width of the outer panel  71  and to permit the post extensions  115  to be inserted into the base apertures  42  opening through the upper surface  25  of the base  22  within the same gap  25 G. FIG. 5B is a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 illustrating the lower bracket  121  of an inner panel  81  positioned over and for receipt of the bracket component  123  in the base bracket slots  45  generally away from the corner  24 C. FIG. 6B is a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 illustrating the lower bracket  121  of an inner panel  81  positioned over and for receipt of the bracket component  123  in the base bracket slots  45  generally adjacent to the corner  24 C and flush with a post  67  of an outer panel  71 . 
     The system  21  may include additional panel securement means  111  that allow each panel  61  to be releasably secured to each other. The additional panel securement means  111  includes an upper bracket  131  extending from an upper edge  63  of the inner panel  81  and sized and shaped such that the inner panel  81  may be releasably secured to another panel  61  by such bracket  131 . The illustrated embodiments of the inner panels  81  includes an upper bracket  131  affixed—such as by welding—to and projecting from one or both of the upper edge corners  63 C of the inner panel  81 . For embodiments of the inner panels  81  that are not of the same vertical height as the panel  61  to which it is to be releasably secured—such as one of the inner panels  81  shown in the FIG. 7 system configuration—, the upper bracket  131  may be affixed to the upper edge corner  63 C of a generally vertical arm  138 —such as that formed by a vertical extension of the post  67 . The upper bracket  131  is sized and shaped to be releasably secured in upper bracket slots  69  opening through the upper edge  63  of the outer panel  61 . FIG. 5A illustrates a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, particularly the upper bracket  131  of an inner panel  81  positioned over and for receipt in the upper bracket slots  69  opening along the upper edge  63  and away from the upper corner  63 C of the outer panel  71 . FIG. 6A illustrates a detail of the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, particularly the upper bracket  131  of an inner panel  81  positioned over and for receipt in the upper bracket slots  69  opening along the upper edge  63  and at and adjacent to the upper corner  63 C of the outer panel  71 . 
     The upper bracket  131  may be formed may be formed, for example, such as by cutting or otherwise shaping material so that at least one portion of the bracket  131  is sized and shaped to be received in and thereby releasably secured to corresponding one or more panel slots  69  that may open through the upper edge  63  of the outer panel  71 . The illustrated embodiments of the inner panels  81  includes one or more upper brackets  131  each of which may be formed by cutting thickened sheet metal to provide a blank having separate panel slot engaging components  133 . The blank is bent and fixed—such as by welding—to one or both of the upper edge corners  63 C of the panel  81  so that the upper slot engaging components  133  are generally parallel to but extend outward from the edge  66  of the panel  81  a sufficient distance to permit the edge  66  of the inner panel  81  to be generally flush with the face or faces  62  of the outer panel or panels  71  to which the panel  81  is releasably secured. While each engaging component  133  is shaped generally to correspond to the size and shape of the inner surface  69 B of the upper slots  69  and, accordingly, may be rectangular, circular, or any other suitable shape, the illustrated embodiments of the engaging components  133  have a rectangular shape. An engaging component  133  of such a non-circular shape received in a slot or slots  69  having a corresponding size and shape advantageously generally prevents the twisting or torquing of the brackets  133  and the panel  81  from which the bracket  133  extends. Embodiments of the system  21  that include one or more outer panels  71  with upper edge slots  69  and one or more inner panels with upper brackets  131  advantageously allow the outer panels  71  and the inner panels  81  to be configured and reconfigured easily and quickly into a variety of patterns such as an “L”-like pattern, a “T”-like pattern, a “H”-like pattern, or variants of these. 
     The system may include other components—such as one or more horizontal display units  151 —that are easily attachable to the vertical panels  61  to form shelves or other horizontal support spaces. Because of the simplified, lightweight construction of the system  21  and open, uncluttered undersurface space  22 B, the system can rest on the surrounding lower edge  24 B of the base and be moved about even in a fully assembled condition. To facilitate such movement, the base  22  may include caster wheels  171  that are attachable to the base such as by fixation to the corner supports  37 . One or more bumpers  191  may be fixed at and adjacent to the edges  26  to reduce the likelihood that the base  22  may cause damage or be damaged such as while it is being moved. The system  21  may include point-of-sale assemblies or the means to carry such assemblies—such as oen or more apertures in the panels  61  (not shown) in which one or more vertical sign holders and signs may be inserted. 
     Numerous multi-sided configurations can be constructed from the system  21  components quickly and easily without any tools or fasteners—conventional or specialized—depending on the merchandising or display requirements of the retailer or other and depending on the type of merchandise that will be stored on or in the system. The system  21  may be used to stock and display and/or store a variety of items including variable sized packages, other types of inanimate objects, and in certain configurations animate objects such as animals at a pet store. 
     One such configuration of the system is illustrated in FIG.  3  and includes a rectangular-shaped base  22  and an outer panel  71 . The outer panel  71  includes a lintel  64 —that generally defines the upper edge  63 ; opposing posts  67 —that generally define the side edges  66  of the vertical panels  61 ; and a grill like shelving storage construction  62 A extending between the lintel and posts. The illustrated base  22  includes panel securement apertures  41  for releasable attachment of the outer panel  71  and other vertical panels  61  to the base. The base  22  includes post apertures  42 —sets  43  of which open through the base  22  and generally adjacent to opposing upper corners  24 C of the upper base edge  24  and another set  43  of which is positioned adjacent to a point generally midway along opposing edges  24 —and two sets  47  of base slots  45 , each set of which is linearly aligned adjacent to each of two opposing upper edges  24 , but inward from a set  43  of post apertures  42  to form gap  25 G. 
     The outer panel  71  is releasably secured to the upper surface  25  of the base  22  by the receipt of lower portions  115  of the panel posts  67  in the post apertures  42  such that one broad face  62  of the panel is generally flush with one of the side wall faces  23 A of the base and the panel edges  66  are generally flush with opposing side wall faces  23 A of the base. The additional panel securement apertures allows one or two additional outer panels  71  and one or more inner panels  81  to be releasably secured to the base  22 . Advantageously, the embodiment of the outer panel  71  forming one component of the FIG. 3 system configuration includes opposing broad faces  62  having a shelving/storage construction  62 A—the shown open grill work that forms the largest portion of the broad faces  62  of the panels  61 —that allows merchandise to displayed from the vertical panels in two dominant directions. The open grill work shelving/storage construction  62  of the illustrated embodiments of the vertical panels  61  allows a variety of other components such as the horizontal support units  151  to be affixed to and thereby supported from the construction while furthering the goal of providing an overall light weight and sturdy system. The system  21  as configured in FIG. 3 provides also an open uncluttered upper surface  25 A of the horizontal base wall  25  such that additional merchandise may be carried on it or on which other displays, for example, a mannequin or smaller shelving systems or promotional items, may be supported. 
     The embodiment of the system  21  illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a base  22  with panel securement apertures  41  arranged as in the FIGS. 3 and 7 embodiments and includes post apertures  42 —opening through the base at the four corners  24 C of the upper surface  25 A generally adjacent to the base edges  24 —and two sets  47  of opposing base bracket slots  45  that open though the upper base surface  25 A and are aligned generally adjacent to but spaced from opposing edges  24  of the base  22  to form gap  25 G. In this embodiment, two outer panels  71  are shown as releasably secured to the base  22  such that they are parallel to, but spaced apart from each other and an inner panel  81  secured to the base  22  and to the upper edges  63  of the outer panels  71  to form overall an “H” configuration. It is clear that the inner panel  81  can be easily repositioned such that the system  21  may form a “U” configuration, or other similar variant. The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4 includes panels  61  having faces  62  that include an open grill work shelving/storage construction  62 A that allows merchandise to displayed from the vertical panel in four dominant directions plus separate open surfaces  25 A of the horizontal base wall  25  such that merchandise may also be carried on it or on which other displays, for example, a mannequin or smaller shelving systems or promotional items, may be supported. 
     Another embodiment of the system  21  is illustrated in FIG.  5 . This embodiment, like the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  6 , includes post apertures  42 —that open generally adjacent to each of the corners  24 C of the base edge  24  and the midway point  22 C from two opposing edges  24  of the base  22 —, bracket slots  45 , a set  47  of which is aligned in a position inward from and along each base edge  24  and inward from each post aperture  42  and another two sets  47  of which are aligned opposing each other generally adjacent to a line running bisecting the upper surface  25 A of the base  22  generally adjacent to the midway point  22 C. The base  22  allows up to three outer panels  71  and one or more inner panels  81  to be releasably secured to the base  22 . The system  21  as illustrated in FIG. 5 includes one outer panel  71 —releasably secured, to the base through insertion of the post extensions  115  in the post apertures  42  midway along opposing edges of the base  22 —and an inner panel  81 —sized and shaped and including an upper bracket  131  affixed to one corner  63 C of the inner panel upper edge  63  so that the panel  81  may be releasably secured perpendicular to and midway along the face of the positioned outer panel  71  by receipt of the bracket  131  within panel bracket slots  69  opening within the upper edge  63  of the outer panel  71 . The panels  61  of the FIG. 5 system configuration include faces  62  having an open grill work shelving/storage construction  62 A by which a variety of other hardware may be attached to the system  21 . 
     The embodiment of the system  21  shown in FIG. 6 includes two outer panels  71 —each post extension  115  of which is positioned to be inserted into post apertures  42  along opposing edges  24  of the base  22 —and two inner panels—each of which is positioned to be releasably secured to the base surface  25 A and to the upper edge  63  of the outer panel  71  by receipt of their base brackets  121  into the base slots  45  and their upper brackets  131  into upper edge bracket slots  69  of the outer panels  71 —such that the post of the inner panels  81  are generally flush with the edges  66  of the post  67  of the outer panel  71 . The system with resultant walled space  201  can be used without any additional hardware—such as shelving—as a bin to store and/or display for example, items or merchandise in a loose fashion or animate objects, such as pets, that may off the base surface  25 A unless otherwise confined. The grill-like shelving/storage construction  62 A of the panels  61  in this embodiment is further advantageous in such applications in that, for example, consumers may largely see through the panels to identify and view the confined merchandise. 
     The embodiment of the, present invention illustrated in FIG. 7 includes two outer vertical panels  71  and two inner vertical panels  81 , one of which is largely not of the same vertical height as the other inner panel  81  or the other outer panel  71 . The vertically-shortened vertical panel  81  includes an upper bracket  131  affixed to the upper edge corner  63 C of a generally vertical arm  138  that is a vertical extension of the post  67  such that the engaging components of the upper bracket  131  may be releasably secured in outer panel bracket slots  69  opening through the upper edge  63  of the outer panel  61 . The FIG. 7 embodiment is shown with one of the many horizontal display units  151  that are easily attachable to the vertical panels  61 —a shelf  153  with brackets  155  sized and shaped for attachment to the shelving/storage construction  62 A—such that shelving or other storage or display space may be thereby formed. By inserting the modular components as shown in FIG. 7, space  201  is also formed that, as stated above, is useful for housing objects that are loose and bulky and/or animate objects that can move and thereby need to be confined. Caster wheels  171  are shown in position for attachment to the base  22  to facilitate the systems movement. 
     While a number of configurations are shown and discussed above, it will be readily appreciated that the panels may be organized on the base to form other configurations. It will be also understood that the embodiments of the present invention which have been described are illustrative of some of the applications of the principles of the present invention. Numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.