Patent Publication Number: US-10772424-B2

Title: Shelving system

Description:
PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C Section 119(e) &amp; 37 C.F.R. Section 1.78 
     This nonprovisional application claims priority based upon the following prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled: Modular Partition Systems, Application No. 62/643,574 filed Mar. 15, 2018, in the name of Brian Wesley Turner, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to storage apparatus, more specifically but not by way of limitation, a shelving system wherein the shelving system includes a plurality of adjustable horizontal shelves and further includes a plurality of vertical dividers configured to be releasably secured to the horizontal shelves so as to provide division thereof for organization of items. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Storage apparatus are well known in the art. Whether for commercial purposes or for residential needs various apparatus are utilized to store items and provide subsequent availability. Commonly utilized storage apparatus include filing cabinets and bin systems wherein these apparatus typically store smaller items and provide full enclosure of the item. Shelving systems are another type of apparatus that are commonly utilized to provide storage of items. As is known in the art, shelving systems typically include at least one horizontal support surface and can be either mounted to a wall or can be provide with supports wherein the supports can be either fixed or be movably mounted with wheels or similar item. Conventional shelving systems can be manufactured from various materials but are often manufactured from wood or metal. 
     One common type of shelving system are commercial wire shelves. These shelving systems are configured with four corner upright mounting posts and have a plurality of horizontal shelves operably coupled thereto. The horizontal shelves are adjustable wherein each shelf can be placed in a different vertical position and as such provide varying heights present intermediate each shelf. While the shelf positions are adjustable, one deficiency with these existing shelving systems is the inability to compartmentalize the space on one of the shelves. Many times, various alternate objects are placed on a shelf in a commercial environment. These objects often have different sizes and other characteristics wherein separation thereof is desirable. 
     Accordingly, there is a need for a shelving system that is configured to have a plurality of horizontal shelves and further wherein the shelving system includes a plurality of vertical dividers that are operable to segment a single horizontal shelf. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to provide a shelving system that is configured to be portable and provide storage of a plurality of items, wherein the shelving system includes a plurality of horizontal shelves. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system that provides segmentation of each horizontal shelf wherein the shelving system is designed to be portable. 
     A further object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system that is configured to be portable and provide storage of a plurality of items wherein the horizontal shelves are adjustable so as to have alternate distances between an adjacent horizontal shelf. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system that provides segmentation of each horizontal shelf wherein the segmentation of the horizontal shelf is provided utilizing a vertical divider. 
     An additional object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system that is configured to be portable and provide storage of a plurality of items wherein the vertical divider of the shelving system includes a first portion and a second portion. 
     Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system that provides segmentation of each horizontal shelf wherein the second portion of the vertical divider is movably secured within the first portion of the vertical divider. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system that is configured to be portable and provide storage of a plurality of items wherein the first portion is movably in an upwards-downwards direction so as to provide alternate heights of the vertical divider. 
     Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a shelving system that provides segmentation of each horizontal shelf wherein the vertical divider of the shelving system is configured to be releasably secured in alternate positions on the horizontal shelves of the shelving system. 
     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being a part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of a vertical divider of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 3  is a front view of the vertical divider of the present invention in its second position; and 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of the vertical divider of the present invention in its first position. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith, wherein various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein through the views and figures like elements are referenced with identical reference numerals, there is illustrated a shelving system  100  constructed according to the principles of the present invention. 
     An embodiment of the present invention is discussed herein with reference to the figures submitted herewith. Those skilled in the art will understand that the detailed description herein with respect to these figures is for explanatory purposes and that it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that alternative embodiments are plausible. By way of example but not by way of limitation, those having skill in the art in light of the present teachings of the present invention will recognize a plurality of alternate and suitable approaches dependent upon the needs of the particular application to implement the functionality of any given detail described herein, beyond that of the particular implementation choices in the embodiment described herein. Various modifications and embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. 
     It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limited to the particular methodology, materials, uses and applications described herein, as these may vary. Furthermore, it is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be noted that as used herein and in the claims, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is a reference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof known to those skilled in the art. All conjunctions used are to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, the word “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical “or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the context clearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to be understood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures. Language that may be construed to express approximation should be so understood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
     References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “exemplary embodiments”, and the like may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the invention so described may include a particular feature, structure or characteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes the particular feature, structure or characteristic. 
     Referring in particular to Figures submitted as a part hereof, the shelving system  100  includes a plurality of horizontal shelves  10 . The horizontal shelves  10  are releasably secured to corner support posts (not illustrated herein) and are configured so as to be secured at alternate heights with respect to each other. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the horizontal shelves  10  are movably coupled to conventional corner support posts so as to provide alternate heights thereof for the shelving system  100 . The horizontal shelves  10  illustrated herein include a front support bar  11 , rear support bar  13  and a plurality of support members  13  therebetween. The illustrated embodiment of the horizontal shelves  10  are manufactured from tubular metal and are secured utilizing suitable durable material such as but not limited to welding. While the embodiment illustrated herein depicts the horizontal shelves  10  as metal wire shelves, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the horizontal shelves  10  could be manufactured from numerous alternate materials and further be constructed so as to be a solid piece of material. It should be further understood within the scope of the present invention that the horizontal shelves  10  could be manufactured in various alternate shapes and sizes. 
     The vertical dividers  30  are releasably secured intermediate the horizontal shelves  10  wherein the vertical dividers  10  extend intermediate horizontal shelves  10  that are vertically adjacent. The vertical dividers  30  function to laterally divide the horizontal shelves  10  into segments  20 . The vertical dividers  30  are releasably secured to the horizontal shelves  10  utilizing a first fastener  40  and second fastener  50 . The vertical divider  30  includes a first portion  32  and second portion  34 . The second portion  34  is movably mounted to the first portion  32  so as to provide height adjustment of the vertical divider  30 . The vertical divider  30  is manufactured from a durable lightweight material such as but not limited to plastic. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the vertical divider  30  could be present within the shelving system  100  in numerous alternate quantities as needed to create the desired number of segments  20 . 
     The first portion  32  of the vertical divider  30  includes a first wall  33 , a second wall  34  and a bottom  35  integrally formed to create an interior volume. The front wall  36  of the first portion  32  of the vertical divider  30  further includes a slot  70  formed therein. The slot  70  includes a plurality of notches  75  that are configured to receive and retain the slider  85 . It should be understood within the scope of the present invention that the slot  70  could be formed with an alternate quantity of notches  75 . The notches  75  function to engage the slider  85  and provide control of the height adjustment of the vertical divider  30  by providing alternate positions of the second portion  34 . The second portion  34  is movably secured within the interior volume of the first portion  32 . The second portion  34  is slidable wherein the slidable movement is facilitated through engagement of the slider  85 . 
     The second portion  34  is manufactured from a solid piece of material such as but not limited to plastic and is of similar shape as the first portion  32  having a depth thereof that is slightly less so as to facilitate slidable securing within the interior volume of the first portion  32 . The second portion  34  is slidably traversed within the interior volume of the first portion  32  so as to provide alternate heights of the vertical divider  30 . It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the second portion  34  could be movable to numerous alternate positions so as to facilitate various heights of the vertical divider  30 . While notches  75  are illustrated herein to provide height adjustment of the second portion  34 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the height adjustment of the second portion  34  could be achieved utilizing various alternate elements. 
     The first portion  32  of the vertical divider  30  includes a bottom edge  29  having the first fastener  40  and second fastener  50  secured thereto on distal ends thereof. The first fastener  40  includes a support member  41  that has a curved portion  42  configured to extend rearwards from the front wall  39 . The first fastener  40  is manufactured from a resilient material such as but not limited to metal. The second fastener  50  includes a first member  52  and second member  54  that are configured to extend downward from bottom edge  29 . The second fastener  50  further includes void  53  intermediate the first member  52  and second member  54 . Void  53  is configured to receive a portion of the rear support bar  13  therein and bias thereagainst. The vertical divider  30  is releasably secured to the horizontal shelves  10  wherein the first fastener  40  is secured to the front support bar  11  first and then the second fastener  50  is secured to the rear support bar  13 . Ensuing securing of the vertical divider  30  to the horizontal shelves  10  the second portion  34  is moved in an upwards direction wherein the upper edge  39  thereof is adjacent the horizontal shelf  10  that is vertically adjacent thereto. The aforementioned is executed with a plurality of vertical dividers  30  so as to provide the desired segments  20 . 
     While an embodiment of the first fastener  40  and second fastener  50  have been depicted and described herein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the first fastener  40  and second fastener  50  could be constructed in alternate manners so as to operably secure the vertical divider  30  to horizontal shelves  10  having another construction than that depicted herein. 
     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.