Patent ID: 7546706

Claim:
A modular system for constructing platform and shelving structures, said system comprising: a plurality of modules, each module configurable in either a stowable or assembled configuration, each said module, in said assembled configuration, consisting essentially of: a central vertical rectangular panel having parallel top and bottom horizontal edges and parallel first and second vertical edges defining opposing first and second vertical sides; a second vertical rectangular panel having parallel top and bottom horizontal edges and parallel first and second vertical edges; a first hinge member coupling said second vertical edge of said second vertical rectangular panel proximate to one of said first or second vertical edges of said central vertical rectangular panel, wherein said second vertical rectangular panel extends substantially perpendicular to said first vertical side of said central vertical rectangular panel, and wherein said top horizontal edge of said second vertical rectangular panel is substantially within the same plane as said top horizontal edge of said central vertical rectangular panel; a horizontal rectangular panel having parallel first and second horizontal edges and parallel third and fourth horizontal edges perpendicular to said first and second horizontal edges; and, a second hinge member coupling said first horizontal edge of said horizontal rectangular panel proximate to said top horizontal edge of said central vertical rectangular panel, wherein said horizontal rectangular panel extends substantially perpendicular to said second vertical side of said central vertical rectangular panel, and wherein a top surface of said horizontal rectangular panel is substantially parallel to the plane containing said top horizontal edges of said central and second vertical panels; wherein each said module is configurable to said stowable configuration by rotating said second vertical rectangular panel and said horizontal rectangular panel about their hinged edges toward said opposing first and second vertical sides, respectively, of said central vertical rectangular panel until said second vertical rectangular panel and said horizontal rectangular panel are substantially parallel and adjacent to said central vertical rectangular panel, whereby a plurality of said modules in said stowable configuration can be stored in substantially the minimum possible space; and, wherein said plurality of modules comprises at least first and second modules and, when said first and second modules are configured in said assembled configuration, at least a portion of a bottom surface of said horizontal rectangular panel of said first module is supported by said top horizontal edge of said central or said second vertical rectangular panel of said second module.