Abstract:
A new method of creating a shelving system is disclosed which utilizes vertical supports in a flexible method of positioning horizontal supports. The method of installing the supports is a twisting “T” slot design which firmly locks the support in place in a manner that provides a high support strength. The supports may be installed in a variety of incremental positions rapidly, and is useful for permanent storage or for displays of items which involve rapid assembly and disassembly.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not applicable. 
       STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable. 
       REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTING 
       [0003]    Not applicable. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    (1) Field of the Invention 
         [0005]    This invention is directed to vertical wall type modular storage systems where a flexible and relocatable storage shelving system is desirable. Also, the present invention is directed to a simplified method of adjusting horizontal shelving where shelves are rapidly and simply relocated to a new height. Additionally, the present invention provides for new types of shelving or item holders to be rapidly installed in vertical holding supports quickly and conveniently so that a display may be readily assembled, disassembled, or changed. 
         [0006]    (2) Description of Related Art 
         [0007]    An important and desirable shelving display is in a commercial setting where a display booth is quickly brought to a location and then swiftly installed in a trade show to display particular products. A highly customizable, yet relatively modular system is very desirable for visual aesthetics, and to ensure that the product booth is organized in a way that provides for an opportunity for a sales discussion. It is often the case that the products to be sold are of varying sizes. 
         [0008]    Another desirable shelving display is a customizable wine system where a person provides a display of individual wine bottles and rotates them to allow the label on each bottle to be prominently displayed. The bottles may be displayed level or off level to ensure that the cork is kept in the wet state according to the custom of how individual bottles are stored/displayed. A large number of bottles may be desired to be displayed, or only a small portion depending upon the business or personal owner of the collection. It is desirable to have a shelving system that provides small incremental height adjustments, does not require a particular height on each end of the bottle, and allows for individual and unique item holders (such as wine bottles). Also, it is helpful that the storage system allow for rapid display changes as bottles are consumed and the display may be varied according to how the owner desires to feature newly purchased bottles. 
         [0009]    It is highly desirable to have a storage system that provides for a high weight loading, that is, a design that provides confidence for the owner. Systems that provide storage need to be able to hold items securely for a long time, and the owner needs to have confidence that the items will not fall or break. 
         [0010]    Others have looked into variable height storage shelving systems. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,062,401 describes a variable height shelving system where the storage shelves are able to be relocated via two vertical notched posts, and the storage shelves are otherwise guided or stabilized by four vertical guide posts. Unfortunately, this system does not provide for a wall type of display, nor does it provide for a method of holding individual items. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,937 describes a method of utilizing a slotted hole and a slot on an angle. Although this may have some advantage in strength over other designs at the time of filing, the design is permanently attached to the wall and is not generally considered re-locatable. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,605,238 describes a shelving system that is useful for storing a variety of items. However, the system requires vertical supports not attached to the wall, has many un-needed parts, and is over complicated. Re-configuring the shelving system is not convenient, nor can it be done rapidly. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,117 discloses a wine rack where rods designed to hold horizontal wine bottles are bent in a way to support each end of the bottle. The rods are designed to support one or more wine bottles which provide flexibility in size. However, the vertical supports lack in the ability to allow the rods to be placed in vertical positions incrementally, which provide important flexibility in actual use and personal customization. Also, the horizontal rods need to be welded into the vertical support for support strength, further restricting any ability for customization or adapting the storage to a particular need. 
         [0014]    It is notable that the patents described generally do not have any locking feature for the horizontal support when it is relocatable. It is merely engaged by gravity, and therefore cannot be installed at any angle or attached to a horizontal surface such as a ceiling. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0015]    A new method of creating a shelving system is disclosed which utilizes vertical supports in a flexible method of positioning horizontal supports. The method of installing the supports is a twisting “T” slot design which firmly locks the support in place in a manner that provides a high support strength. The supports may be installed in a variety of incremental positions rapidly, and is useful for permanent storage or for displays of items which involve rapid assembly and disassembly. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0016]      FIG. 1  shows a view of how the present invention is used in one embodiment. 
           [0017]      FIGS. 2A-2D  shows an exploded view of the twist lock system for the horizontal support with an additional lower snap lock. 
           [0018]      FIG. 3  shows an alternate view of how the present invention is used in another embodiment. 
           [0019]      FIG. 4  shows how a single vertical column is used to support bottles for storage. 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  shows a detail of the cam and locator pin on the horizontal support of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 6  shows how the vertical support column may be installed in a wall by a fastener that additional provides a locator hole for the locator pin. 
           [0022]      FIG. 7  shows how the invention is used to support glassware racks, such as wine glasses. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]      FIG. 1  shows a general embodiment of the present invention where it is used for storage as a wine rack. Vertical support columns  101  are mounted on a wall or other vertical surface that can be used for storage. A triple neck arm  102   a  with triple base arm  102   b , a double neck arm  103   a  with a double neck base arm  103   b , and a single neck arm  104   a  with a single base arm  104   b  are shown. All of the arms are re-locatable on the vertical support columns  101  as will be discussed in the next figure. An ID tag with a swivel feature may be used to identify items being stored or mounted on the vertical support columns  101 . An angle arm  106  with a different design to support items is shown. Soft elastomer pads  107   a,b,c  are optionally added to any of the arms to provide gentle support and a security grip for items being displayed or stored, and to prevent damage to delicate items such as glass which can slip off of the support. 
         [0024]    The vertical support columns are to be mounted to the wall or other vertical surface in a manner that will support the desired storage-display weight. Various fasteners, drywall anchor screws, nails, screws, bolts, hooks, brackets, straps, and other hardware commercially available may be utilized with success. 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a combination of a number of different horizontal supporting elements are incorporated into a pair of vertical columns, and a uniform horizontal support structure is not required. As conceived in the present invention, at least one support column is required, and at least one support member. The method of attachment of the horizontal support is further detailed in  FIGS. 2A-2D . 
         [0026]      FIGS. 2A-2D  illustrates the method of how the horizontal support locks into the vertical support column in a way that provides flexibility for display items, high support strength, convenient relocation to a new position on the vertical support column, and rapid repositioning. The horizontal support shown is not limited to only storage such as a shelf support or a flat item, but may be used to hold oddly shaped items, such as wine bottles, tools, cans, jars, books, kitchen items, small appliances, cleaning supplies, jugs, and many other items that are stored on a shelf or against a wall. 
         [0027]      FIG. 2A  shows a horizontal support  201  and vertical column  202  which comprise two elements of the storage system. Three horizontal supports  201  are shown on the vertical column in various stages of interlock. The top support is being located on the vertical column by directing the locator pin  204  into the locator hole  206  (see  FIG. 2B  for close up detail). The support is rotated so that the cam  203  on the shaft  208  is vertical and passes into a uniform “T” slot  205 . The middle and bottom supports demonstrate that after the locator pin  204  is inserted into the locator hole  206  (see  FIG. 2C-plan  view) it is rotated ¼ of a complete turn so that the snap lock  207  is rotated downward and it engages or snaps into the “T” Slot  205  for a firm lock ( FIG. 2D-profile  view). The support is designed so that the rotation may be clockwise or counterclockwise depending upon the convenience of how the user engages the support into the “T” slot  205 . The cam  203  is designed symmetrically so that the support may be engaged in either of two positions 180 degrees apart. 
         [0028]    The snap lock, however, in a preferred embodiment is designed not to be permanent. The snap lock is only moderately resistive to rotating away from the “T” Slot. This provides for rapid relocation of the horizontal support  201  into any locator hole on the vertical column  202  in a matter of seconds. No tooling is required for relocation. The snap lock is designed to engage with the vertical support column to provide a secure, but non permanent locking. The snap lock  207  is one embodiment of the present invention, but the attachment of some horizontal supports are too small to allow for incorporation of a snap lock. 
         [0029]      FIG. 2B  shows that the cam  203  is designed so that it passes through the “T” slot, and the cam is additionally designed so that it has a friction grip upon the “T” slot around the shaft  208  due to a tight tolerance fit. In combination with the lower bracing of the horizontal support, this provides additional vertical support strength of up to 150 lbs (or more) per support. The combination of friction and locator pin, additionally with the lower snap lock, provides important support strength. Also, the use of locator pins provide for exact positioning of the horizontal support. 
         [0030]    The locator holes  206  are preferably spaced at regular intervals, but are optionally interrupted for a mounting feature. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 2A-2D  demonstrates that the present invention is therefore a multipurpose and highly efficient method of supporting items that is very practical, and utilizes at least one support column for linking, supporting, or hanging in applications like displays and storage. 
         [0032]    The vertical support columns are preferably made from a metal such as steel or aluminum, or other suitably strong support column material, such as an engineered plastic. The horizontal support members with the rotating cam and locating pin are typically made from plastic that is injection molded for best overall cost. Other materials could be utilized with equal success. 
         [0033]      FIG. 3  shows another embodiment of the present invention. A vertical support column  301  is used to engage horizontal support brackets  303  by the methods described in  FIGS. 2A-2D . A rail  304  is supported on the horizontal support brackets  303 , and a cradle shaped bottle stand  302  is attached to the rail  304 . Additionally, a cradle shaped bottle holder  306  is also attached to the rail  304 . Soft elastomers  305   a, b, c , which cushion and grip, are used to protect the bottles or other items to be stored from the holders mounted on the rail. By adding additional bottle holders and bottle stands, as well as additional rails, an entire storage system can be developed for numerous bottles of various sizes and shapes. Any number of vertical supports and horizontal support brackets can be added to accommodate the needed shapes, sizes, and weights of a storage system. The storage system can therefore be expanded to include glass hangers, baskets, storage containers, shelves, hooks, rails, books, wine bottles, glasses, tools, cans, jars, kitchen items, small appliances, cleaning supplies, and jugs. 
         [0034]      FIG. 4  shows another embodiment of the present invention. A single vertical column  401  is used to support bottles for storage. To compress space, the bottles are stored at various angles. An outward projecting support ring  402 , a wall hugging support ring  403 , an outward projecting 45 degree angle support ring  405 , and a tilting support ring  406 , are all used to support and hold glass bottles. Soft elastomers  404   a, b, c, d, e, f, g, h  are used to prevent bottle damage and to ensure that the support rings have a long life as well. 
         [0035]    Although the present invention will be most useful in attaching to a wall, the methods disclosed are not meant to be restrictive to only a vertical wall. The support column with the “T” slot can be installed on a horizontal or inclined surface, such as a ceiling or a cathedral ceiling, and the supporting element can be used for storage of various items with suitable designs that incorporate hooks, for example. Further, the support column, or alternately described as a support frame or simply a frame, is installed on such surfaces commonly found in display areas in conventions and sales events, where it is desirable to promote items for sale. 
         [0036]      FIG. 5  shows a detail of the cam and locator pin on the horizontal support of  FIG. 2 . The cam  504  is attached to the support arm face  505  through a shaft  501 . There is a curved surface  503  on the cam  504  which defines a tolerance between the cam and the support arm face  505 . This tolerance is designed to provide the snug or friction fit between the support arm and the uniform T Slot on the vertical column. A locator pin  502  additionally provides vertical strength, and also provides a defined position on the support column. 
         [0037]      FIG. 6  shows an embodiment where the vertical support column is installed on a wall by a fastener that additionally provides a locator hole for the locator pin. A vertical support column with a uniform slot  601  is to be attached to a vertical surface by a screw  604  as shown. The screw has a recessed hex, screw flat, or Phillips machining and an oversized hole that allows locator pin  603  from support arm  602  to be positioned based on the position of the screw  604 . This method allows the attachment fasteners to maintain the same incremental positioning in the support column. Generally, the vertical support column will be slightly drilled larger on site in order to provide room for the screw at the same spot as a locator hole. Alternately, the vertical support column is be predrilled with holes in a suitable pattern that are slightly larger to accommodate screws such as shown in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 7  shows how the invention is used to support glassware racks, such as wine glasses. A plurality of vertical support columns is used with horizontal supports to support a rail  703  which, in turn, supports an attached horizontal glassware holder  701 . The glassware holder  701  is positioned anywhere along the rail  703 . The glassware holder  701  holds wine type glasses upside down by the stem. A shelf  702  is attached to the rail and provides flexibility for other items to be stored. A alternate glassware holder  704  is directly attached to the vertical support column by use of a different design. It may be positioned vertically as necessary, and the glasses may be positioned anywhere along the support. Elastomer pads  706  are used to protect the glasses. A storage container  705  of some kind, such as a waste or a washing container, is directly attached to the vertical column. The system, as shown, demonstrates elements that are useful in a wet bar for example. It is helpful to have flexibility in storage for such a system, when a large party takes place and the need for storage is more demanding. When the party is over, the need for storage diminishes and it is helpful to be able to dismantle it quickly and place items in long term storage to avoid dust, or to return them to the place where they were borrowed. 
         [0039]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described, the invention may be modified and adapted to various operational methods to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is not limited to the description and figure shown herein, and includes all such embodiments, changes, and modifications that are encompassed by the scope of the claims.