Patent Publication Number: US-2004045921-A1

Title: Adjustable shelf storage system

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention provides a shelf storage system which is easily disassembled into component parts which are storable in a compact volume and wherein the height and length of the system is adjustable.  
       [0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art  
       [0004] Shelf storage systems are available in the prior art, including these which are modular and expandable, for household use. However, these systems tend to be difficult to assemble and often require tools to join different sections together to increase the height and extent of the system. In addition, the components which form the system tend to be bulky and cumbersome and not easily stored or packaged.  
       [0005] What is desired is to provide a shelf storage system for household use wherein the height and extent of the system is easily adjustable to meet a user&#39;s requirements and wherein the system component parts, when disassembled, can be stored in a compact volume.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006] The present invention provides a shelf storage system which is easily adjusted to increase its height and extent. The system comprises a first unit having front and rear lower vertical members, each lower vertical member comprising a C-shaped hollow channel having a base plate at one end, the vertical lower members being coupled together by braces. The vertical members have first and second adjacent row of notches, or openings, formed on one surface thereof A second unit, essentially identical to the first unit, is spaced from the first unit and joined thereto by cross members having locking lugs attached to each end. The locking lugs engage two adjacent notches formed on the first row on the surface of the front and rear vertical members of the first and second unit whereby the first and second units are secured together to form a first section. The cross beams have a lip portion which is adapted to support or similar item a shelf positioned therebetween.  
       [0007] A third unit of the system comprises front and rear upper vertical members, each upper vertical member comprising a C-shaped hollow channel having extensions protruding from one end, the vertical upper members being joined together by braces. The upper vertical members have first and second adjacent row of notches formed on one surface thereof A fourth unit, identical to the third unit, is spaced from the third unit and joined thereto by cross members having locking lugs attached to each end. The locking lugs engage two adjacent notches formed in the first row on the surface of the front and rear upper vertical members of the third and fourth unit whereby the third and fourth members are joined together to form a second section.  
       [0008] To form the assembled basic storage shelf system of the present invention, the second section is positioned above the first section and the extensions protruding from the bottom end of the upper vertical members are inserted into the channels formed in the lower vertical members which form the first section. If the user desires to increase the extent, or length, of the system, a fifth unit, identical to the first and second unit, is spaced from the second unit and a cross beam, having locking lugs on both ends, has the locking lug on one end inserted into adjacent notches formed on the fifth unit, the locking lug on the other end being inserted into two notches in the second row of notches formed on the surface of the lower vertical member of the second unit, thereby securing the fifth unit to the first and second units.  
       [0009] The present invention thus provides a shelf storage system that is easily adjustable to increase the height and extent thereof and wherein the disassembled components that form the system can be stored or packaged in a compact volume. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0010] For a better understanding of the present invention as well as other objects and further features thereof, reference is made to the following description which is to be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing therein:  
     [0011]FIG. 1 illustrates the lower vertical member;  
     [0012]FIG. 2 illustrates the upper vertical member;  
     [0013]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view through one leg of the vertical member;  
     [0014]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the lower portion of one leg of the upper vertical member;  
     [0015]FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along line  5 - 5  of FIG. 4;  
     [0016]FIG. 6 illustrates a cross member;  
     [0017]FIG. 7 illustrates the locking lugs of the cross member shown in FIG. 6;  
     [0018]FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view along line  8 - 8  of FIG. 6;  
     [0019]FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line  9 - 9  of FIG. 6;  
     [0020]FIG. 10 is a front view of an assembled storage unit in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;  
     [0021]FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along line  11 - 11  of FIG. 10;  
     [0022]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view along line  12 - 12  of FIG. 10;  
     [0023]FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view along line  13 - 13  of FIG. 10;  
     [0024]FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view along line  14 - 14  of FIG. 10;  
     [0025]FIG. 15 illustrates the use of the storage unit of the present invention to store clothes;  
     [0026]FIG. 16 and  17  illustrate additional uses of the storage device of the present invention;  
     [0027]FIG. 18 illustrates the expansion of the storage device of the present invention in the longitudinal direction; and  
     [0028]FIG. 19 illustrates how the components that form the storage unit of the present invention can be positioned to minimize packaging volume. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
     [0029] Referring now to FIG. 1, one unit  8  of the adjustable shelf storage system of the present invention is illustrated. Specifically, unit  8  comprises front and rear lower vertical members, or legs,  10  and  12 , respectively. Each lower vertical member has an opening  14  forming a C-shaped, hollow channel, and a lower plate  16 , an opening  18  is formed in lower plate  16  to receive a fastening member to secure the members to a surface, if required. One surface of each vertical member  10  and  12  has a plurality of notches, or openings,  22  formed in two adjacent rows as illustrated, the notches adapted to receive a cross member as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Brace members  26 ,  28  and  30  are provided to strengthen the stability of the assembled unit  8 .  
     [0030]FIG. 2 illustrates a second unit  30  of the adjustable shelf storage system of the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 2 illustrates front and rear upper vertical members, or legs,  32  and  34 , respectively. Each vertical member has an opening  36  forming a C-shaped hollow channel and lower protrusions, or extensions,  38 . The surface of each vertical member  32  and  34  has a plurality of notches, or openings,  40  formed in two adjacent rows, the notches adapted to receive a cross member as will be described in more detail hereinafter. Brace members  42 ,  44  and  46  are provided to strengthen the stability of the assembled unit  30 .  
     [0031] To form a first section  31  of the storage assembly of the present, lower front and rear vertical members  10  are joined together by cross members  60  in a manner as will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS.  6 - 8 .  
     [0032]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1 illustrating lower vertical leg  12  and portions of braces  26 ,  28  and  30 . Braces  26  and  30  are shown as being welded to the interior wall  50  of leg  12  and brace  28  is shown as welded to the outer surface of brace  30 .  
     [0033]FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view through the lower portion of leg  32  of upper vertical member  30  and shows extension portion  38  welded to the inner surface  52  of leg  32  and FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view through leg  32 .  
     [0034]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of cross member  60  which, as will be set forth hereinafter, couples the first unit  8  and second unit  30  of the storage assembly together. Cross member  60  comprises a L-shaped beam  62  having locking lugs  64  and  66  attached to opposite ends of beam  62 .  
     [0035]FIG. 7 is a detail of locking lug  66 . Locking lug  66  (the construction of lock lug  64  is identical) comprises a L-shaped bracket  68  having protrusions  70  and  72  extending from surface  74  of bracket  68  as illustrated.  
     [0036]FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view through locking lug  66  and FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of cross member  60 .  
     [0037]FIG. 10 illustrates the assembled basic shelf storage configuration of the present invention. In particular, vertical upper members  32  are joined together by two cross members  60  (only the front cross member is illustrated) to thus form a section  55 ; section  55  is then positioned above section  31  and aligned such that extensions  38  of upper vertical members  32  and  34  are positioned above channels  14  in corresponding lower vertical members  10  and  12 , respectively. The user then moves sections  31  and  55  towards each other such that extensions  38  are positioned within the openings  14  formed in the corresponding lower vertical members. It should be noted that the extension (or joint)  38  can be attached instead to the top of the lower vertical members in a manner that they would be positioned in the channels, or openings, formed in the bottom of the upper vertical members to replace the extensions in this configuration to thus couple the two sections together.  
     [0038] Although FIG. 10 illustrates the assembled basic storage configuration of the present invention; it should be understood that other configurations of the storage unit are available. For example, the two lower vertical member units  10  can be coupled together with cross beams  60  and the upper vertical members  32  eliminated. Further, additional cross members  60  can be added to provide additional shelf space for any configuration choosen.  
     [0039] In addition, the method of assembly of the basic unit illustrated can vary. For example, as noted hereinabove, the first section  31  can be assembled first, the second section  55  assembled second and the two assembled sections then connected together using cross beams  60 . Alternately, the first unit can be initially joined to the third unit, cross beams  60  added, the second and fourth units secured to the corresponding lower vertical members and the third cross beam added, and so on. In addition, the height of the configuration shown in FIG. 10 can be further increased by additional sections on top of the sections illustrated.  
     [0040]FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view through locking lug  64  and lower vertical leg  10  showing how cross beam  60  is secured to the vertical members. The cross beam  60  is positioned such that the protrusions  70  and  72  of locking lug  64  is adjacent two corresponding notches  40  in the left lower vertical member  10 ; the protrusions are inserted through the larger portion of the notch  40  and then forced downward into the smaller recess of notch  40 , forming a lock. The procedure is repeated with the right lower vertical number  10 . The same procedure set forth hereinabove is utilized to secure rear upper and lower vertical members  12  and  34  to adjacent upper and lower vertical members.  
     [0041]FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view through the upper and lower vertical legs.  
     [0042]FIG. 13 illustrates how lower cross beam  60  can be used to support a wire mess shelf  90 ; FIG. 14 illustrates how upper cross beam  60  can be used to support a wood shelf  92  and FIG. 15 illustrates how cross beam  60  can be used to support a clothes rod  94 .  
     [0043]FIG. 16 is a schematic drawing illustrating how two assembled vertical members  80  and  82  can be used to support a desk or work station unit  100  and FIG. 17 illustrates how two assembled vertical members  80  and  82  can be used as a closed cabinet  102 .  
     [0044]FIG. 18 illustrates how the shelf storage device of the present invention can provide extended (or lengthened) shelfing. In particular, a second connected shelfing unit  110  is formed by using two cross beams  60  to connect lower vertical members  10  (rear lower vertical members not shown) of a fifth unit, constructed identically to the first and second units, to the lower vertical member  10  of the second unit by connecting the left locking lug to adjacent notches formed on the other row of notches. The right locking lug is then connected to adjacent notches formed in one row of the fifth unit as illustrated.  
     [0045]FIG. 19 illustrates how the disassembled components of the shelf storage device of the present invention can be positioned in a minimum volume with the cross-beams  60  stored between the vertical members to reduce the cost of packaging and shipping.  
     [0046] While the invention has been described with reference to its preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its essential teachings.