Abstract:
A modular shelving system includes height-adjustable second vertical members that receive horizontal supports. Each second vertical member is supported by a first vertical member. Each combined first vertical member and second vertical member can be fastened together at different locations so the second vertical member can be positioned at different heights. The modular shelving may have a base to receive and stabilize the first vertical members. At the top of each second vertical member there may be an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism may be adjusted upward to be pressure fit against an upper stationary object such as a ceiling to help stabilize the modular shelving.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The following disclosure relates to modular shelving, particularly shelving with adjustable vertical supports including horizontal shelves that can be assembled in multiple configurations. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects of the present invention are directed to modular shelving that is adjustable and that can be assembled in a variety of shapes and configurations to enable it to fit in a variety of spaces and serve different purposes. 
     The shelving includes one or more first vertical members and one or more second vertical members. Each second vertical member is affixed to a respective first vertical member by any suitable fastening method. For example, each second vertical member may have a plurality of second openings and each respective first vertical member may have a plurality of first openings. When one or more second openings align with one or more first openings, a fastener, such as a screw, bolt or pin, may be placed through one or more of the aligned first opening(s) and second opening(s) to fix the position and height of the combined first vertical member and second vertical member. Alternatively, each second member may have retractable, spring loaded pins that can be pressed into the second vertical member. When the second vertical member is moved to a position wherein the pin aligned with one of the first openings, the spring biases the pin outward through the first opening to hold the second vertical member and first vertical member in a fixed position. The pin could be pressed inward again to move the second vertical member relative the first vertical member. 
     In one preferred embodiment each first vertical member includes two spaced-apart vertical sections that define a space in between for receiving a lower portion of the corresponding second vertical member. 
     Modular shelving according to aspects of the invention also includes shelving slots formed in each second vertical member above the second plurality of openings. The slots are for receiving a horizontal support piece such as shelf or a rod. 
     The modular shelving also preferably includes a base that rests on a support object, such as a floor, counter, or piece of furniture. The bottom end of each first vertical member is preferably received in the and/or fastened to base to provide stability for each first vertical member. Modular shelving according to aspects of the invention may also include a top portion that fits onto one or more of the tops of each second vertical member. The top portion preferably includes a cap that fits over the top of a second vertical member and an adjustable end piece that can be extended from the cap, such as by threading it to extend it or extending it in any other suitable manner, until it presses against a stationary object above the second vertical member, such as a ceiling or stationary shelving to help stabilize the modular shelving. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an exploded view of an embodiment according to aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a front, perspective, cross-sectional view of an embodiment according to aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a rear, perspective view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a front, partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 5  is a side view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded, partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of an alternate embodiment according to aspects of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a front assembled view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a front, perspective, cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 8 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Turning now to the drawings where the purpose is to describe preferred embodiments of the invention and not to limit same,  FIGS. 1-6  shows modular shelving  10  in accordance with aspects of the present invention. 
     Modular shelving  10  includes one or more (and in this specific embodiment, two) first vertical support members  12 , which as shown are formed by connecting submembers  12 A and  12 B, a second vertical support member  30 , that fits between submembers  12 A and  12 B and is connected to a first vertical support member  12 , and at least one horizontal support, which as shown is one or more shelves  80 , although the horizontal support member could be a rod for holding clothes hangers or any other suitable horizontal support member. Preferably, modular shelving  10  also includes a base  50  and a top portion  100 . 
     As shown, each first vertical support member  12  is comprised of submembers  12 A and  12 B. In this embodiment, a notch  14 B is formed in the bottom of each submember  12 A and  12 B with legs  14 A on either side of the notch. 
     Above the notch  14 B is a plurality of first openings in submember  12 A and a plurality of first openings  12 C in submember  12 B. The first openings  12 C in each submember  12 A and  12 B are in vertical and horizontal alignment when the bottom of each submember is placed on an even surface, such as on base  50  when base  50  rests on an even surface. Each second vertical support member  30  has a lower portion  30 A and an upper portion  30 B. Lower portion  30 A is configured to be received between first vertical submembers  12 A and  12 B and has a plurality of second openings  30 C. Openings  30 C are vertically spaced apart the same distance, and are preferably the same size, as openings  12 C. 
     Upper portion  30 B as shown is wider than lower portion  30 A and includes slots  40  for receiving a horizontal support member. Slots  40  can be of any suitable shape and size for receiving a horizontal support member, depending upon the size and shape of the horizontal support member. In this embodiment there is a plurality of slots  40  in each second vertical support member  30 . Each slot  40  in this embodiment is equally spaced vertically from the corresponding slot  40 , and the space between sots  40  is the same for each second vertical member  30 . 
     Further, in one aspect of this embodiment, the vertical distance between each slot  40  on each second vertical member  30  is the same as the distance between the respective openings  30 C and respective openings  12 C. With this structure, the slots  40  and hence the horizontal support members can be positioned far from a floor or object upon which the modular shelving  10  rests and furniture or other objects can fit underneath the horizontal supports. Some preferred positions for the lowest slots  40  are 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet and 6 feet above the bottom end of a first vertical support member  12 . 
     Shelves  80  are one type of horizontal support member that may be used in the invention. Each shelf  80  is substantially flat and has grooves  80 A that are received in slots  40  so that a groove  80 A fits over the solid portion of section  30 B behind a slot  40 , and a slot  40  fits over the solid portion of a shelf  80  behind a groove  30 A. As shown each shelf has the same width, but shelves of differing widths and/or configurations may be used. Also, different horizontal support members may be used at different vertical positions, such as a rod for holding clothes at one lower vertical position and one or more shelves above the rod. 
     Each second vertical member  30  includes a top  34 . Preferably, an adjustment mechanism  100  fits on each top  34 . Adjustment mechanism  100  has a base  110 , a stem  118 , a cap  120 , and a slot  122 . Slot  122  is configured so that a top  34  of a second support member  30  is received and pressure fit therein. Stem  118  is preferably threaded and is received in an opening on the top surface of adjustment mechanism  100 . A screw boss may be included inside of adjustment mechanism  100  and be in communication with the opening. Cap  120  is attached to the top end of stem  118  in any suitable manner. In operation stem  118  can be threaded into or out of the opening and screw boss (if used) to adjust the vertical position of cap  120 . In this manner cap  120  can be moved upward to pressure fit against an object such as a ceiling or other stationary object. 
     Base (or support base)  50  is preferably elongated and flat with paired base notches  52  to receive first submembers  12 A and  12 B. Base  50  can be of any suitable length and have any number of notches  52 . The purpose of base  50  is to anchor submembers  12 A and  12 B and retain them at a proper distance from one another so that there is a space sufficient to fit a second vertical member  12 C therebetween. With this configuration (regardless of whether base  50  is utilized) second vertical member(s)  30  can be adjusted vertically. 
     An alternate embodiment  1000  of the invention is shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . Embodiment  1000  is in all respects the same as embodiment  10  except that it includes three second vertical members  1030 , wherein each second vertical member  1030  is surrounded by submembers  1012 A and  1012 B in the same manner as submembers  12 A and  12 B surround and support second vertical member  30  as described above. This embodiment  1000  uses the same structures as embodiment  10 , and identical structures are referenced by adding one thousand to the numeral designating a structure in embodiment  10 . For example, structure  1030  in embodiment  12000  is the same as structure  30  in embodiment  10 , and so forth. One exception is that base  1050  is longer than base  50 . 
     Using the configuration of embodiment  1000  more support can be provided for horizontal members that stretch across all three second vertical members  1030  (this arrangement is not shown), or two sets of horizontal members  1080  may be used, as shown in  FIGS. 7-9 . The invention is thus not limited to any number of vertical or horizontal members or to any overall width or height. As shown in  FIGS. 7-9 , shelves  1080  are in a staggered configuration, although this is merely one embodiment. 
     Having thus described different embodiments of the invention, other variations and embodiments that do not depart from the spirit thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of the present invention is thus not limited to any particular embodiment, but is instead set forth in the appended claims and the legal equivalents thereof. Unless expressly stated in the written description or claims, the steps of any method recited in the claims may be performed in any order capable of yielding the desired product or result.