Abstract:
A shelving system includes first and second side frames, each of said side frames having at least one upwardly extending prong; a shelf frame having at least two connector sections, wherein each of said connector sections is in communication with one of said side frames; and wherein each connector section defines a vertical hole therein to receive one of said upwardly extending prongs.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to the field of storage and, more particularly, to an improved shelving system. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    Various types of shelving systems are known in the art. However, these shelves are typically difficult to assemble, and their assembly often requires various types of tools such as screwdrivers or wrenches. Furthermore, mechanisms, such as screws and nuts, used to attach the various components of these shelves often cause discontinuities on the outer surface of the shelves, which can be aesthetically displeasing and can have mechanical disadvantages. 
         [0003]    Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a shelving system that is simple to assemble without the use of tools and provides a fluent outer surface. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    One aspect of the invention is to provide a shelving system that is capable of simple assembly that does not require the use of tools. Another aspect of the invention pertains to the use of a mechanism for attaching the various pieces of the system without causing interruptions in the aesthetic appearance of the outer surface of the shelves. 
         [0005]    In one embodiment of the present invention, a shelving system is provided that includes first and second side frames, each of said side frames having at least one upwardly extending prong; a shelf frame having at least two connector sections, wherein each of said connector sections is in communication with one of said side frames; and wherein each connector section defines a vertical hole therein to receive one of said upwardly extending prongs. 
         [0006]    These aspects are merely illustrative of the innumerable aspects associated with the present invention and should not be deemed as limiting in any manner. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the referenced drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    Reference is now made more particularly to the drawings, which illustrate the depicted embodiments of the present invention and wherein similar reference characters indicate the same parts throughout the views. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a shelving system without any drawers attached according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a plastic connector piece. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a plastic connector piece in an attached state. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a plastic connector piece in an unattached state. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a top shelf in an unattached state. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the connector portion. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a tubular steel portion and a connector portion in an unattached state. 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a tubular steel portion and a connector portion in an attached state. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  is a perspective view of another alternate embodiment of the connector portion. 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  is a perspective view of a shelving system with two drawers attached according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    In the following detailed description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. For example, the invention is not limited in scope to the number of shelves or drawers depicted in the figures. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, and components have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the present invention. 
         [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates an embodiment of a shelving system in the form of a cart  10  with three shelves according to the present invention. This embodiment comprises two side frames  12 , a top shelf  14 , a middle shelf  16 , and a bottom shelf  18 . 
         [0020]    Each side frame  12  comprises an inverted u-shaped portion  20 , a plurality of prongs  22 , a horizontal stabilizing bar  24 , and two wheel portions  26 . The inverted u-shaped portion  20  may be tubular to reduce both the weight and cost of the cart  10 , while still maintaining sufficient strength for its intended uses. As described in more detail below, the prongs  22  extend upwardly and are used to attach the top shelf  14 , middle shelf  16 , and bottom shelf  18  to the side frames  12 . The horizontal stabilizing bar  24  provides rigidity to the side frame  12  and, thus, to the cart  10  as a whole. Both the horizontal stabilizing bar  24  and the prongs  22  may be welded or otherwise connected to the tubular, inverted u-shaped portion  20 . The wheel portions  26  provide mobility to the cart  10 , allowing an end user to move the cart  10  with minimal effort. The wheel portions  26  may have two sets of bearings, allowing rotation in both the horizontal and vertical planes, and may include a breaking mechanism. 
         [0021]    The middle shelf  16  and the bottom shelf  18  comprise two outer members  30  and a plurality of support members  32 , wherein both the outer members  30  and the support members  32  are in the horizontal plane and the support members  32  are perpendicular to the outer members  30 . The support members  32  may be welded or otherwise attached to the outer members  30 . The support members  32  provide rigidity to the shelves, and thus to the cart  10  as a whole. The support members  32  also provide support for any drawers  50  that may be used, as discussed below. 
         [0022]    In the depicted embodiment, the top shelf  14  comprises two outer members  30 , a plurality of support members  32 , and a plurality of intermediate members  34 . As in the case of the middle shelf  16  and bottom shelf  18 , the outer members  30  and support members  32  are in the horizontal plane and perpendicular to each other. The intermediate members  34  are parallel to and positioned between the outer members  30 . In the depicted embodiment, the intermediate members  34  are spaced at even intervals and are closer together than the support members  32 . In the depicted embodiment the intermediate members  34  add utility to the cart  10  by providing a useful top shelf  14  on which items may be placed. The intermediate members  34  may be welded or otherwise attached to the support members  32 . 
         [0023]    In the depicted embodiment, each outer member  30  comprises a tubular steel portion  36  and two connector portions  38 . The tubular steel portion  36  may be attached to the connector portions  38  by glue, welding or other means, or held in place by friction or mechanical snaps incorporated onto the connector portions  38  and/or tubular steel portion  36 . 
         [0024]    In the embodiments depicted in  FIGS. 2-5 , each connector portion  38  contains a hole  42  passing, at least partially, vertically through the connector portion  38 . Each hole  42  is sized to receive a prong  22 , and each prong  22  is attached to the inverted u-shaped portion  20  in a position such that the top shelf  14 , middle shelf  16  and bottom shelf  18  will be desirably placed. In an alternative embodiment, multiple sets of prongs  22  may be attached to the inverted u-shaped portion  20  so as to provide an end user with multiple options for shelf configuration. The connector portion  38  is further comprised of a curved distal end  44  such that it fits flush with the u-shaped portion  20 . Thus, when all four connector portions  38  of a given shelf are in an attached position, i.e. when the prongs  22  are inserted in the holes  42 , the shelf is prevented from horizontal rotation or translation independent of the side frames  12  and is further prevented from vertical movement in the downward direction independent of the side frames  12 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 6-8  depict an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the connector portion  38  is configured to be inserted into the tubular steel portion  36  of the outer member  30 . In this embodiment, the connector portion  38  is comprised of an insertion portion  46  and an external portion  48  and is configured such that the hole  42  passes through the insertion portion  46 . According to this embodiment, the hole  42  passes through the downwardly facing surface of both the connector portion  38  and the tubular steel portion  36  of the outer member  30 . The hole  42  does not pass through the upwardly facing surface of the tubular steel portion  36 , thereby preserving an uninterrupted aesthetic appearance on the upwardly facing surface of the tubular steel portion  36 . Thus, when a shelf is attached to a side frame  12 , the prong  22  passes through the downwardly facing surface of both the tubular steel portion  36  and the connector portion  38 . 
         [0026]    Furthermore, according to this embodiment of the present invention, the connector portion  38  further comprises a protrusion  41 , and the tubular steel portion  36  further comprises a recess  43  for receiving the protrusion  41 . Thus, when the outer member  30  is assembled, the protrusion  41  is situated inside the recess  43  and prevents the connector portion  38  from rotating independently of the tubular steel portion  36 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 9  depicts yet another alternative embodiment of the connector portion  38  in which the internal portion  46  of the connector portion  38  is cut off before the region of the tubular steel portion  36  that the hole  42  passes through. Thus, in this embodiment, when a shelf is attached to a side frame  12 , the prong  22  passes through the tubular steel portion  36  and does not pass through the connector portion  38 . 
         [0028]    In the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 10  drawers  50  are inserted to rest on the middle shelf  16  and the bottom shelf  18 . In the depicted embodiment, these drawers  50  comprise a five sided body  52 , having an open top, and a handle  54 . However, persons having skill in the art will recognize that numerous configurations are possible for the drawers  50  without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the drawers  50  could include lids to cover the top, or the frontward facing surface of the drawers  50  could open to provide access to the contents of the drawer from the front by providing hinges on the bottom of the front surface. 
         [0029]    In the depicted embodiments, the cart  10 , with the exception of the drawers  50 , the wheel portions  26 , and the connector portions  38 , is substantially made of steel. In the depicted embodiment, the drawers  50  could be made of a variety of materials such as plastic, fabric, cardboard, metal, wood or any other material known in the art for fabricating drawers. In the depicted embodiment the connector portions  38  are made of plastic, and the construction of the wheel portions  26  comprise a combination of plastics and metals as is well known in the art. However, persons skilled in the art will recognize that the various components of the present invention could be made of numerous and varied materials other than those disclosed in the embodiments depicted herein and that the use of such other materials for the construction of such various components are within the scope of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Various embodiments of the invention have been described above to explain the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention. However, as various modifications could be made in the constructions and methods herein described and illustrated without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the foregoing description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than limiting. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by the above-described embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims appended hereto and their equivalents.