Patent ID: 7549255

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 of said modules, in said assembled configuration, consisting essentially of: a central vertical member having a horizontal top edge and a vertical edge, said edges defining opposing first and second vertical sides of said member; a second vertical member having a horizontal top edge and a vertical edge; a first hinge member coupling said vertical edge of said central vertical member proximate to said vertical edge of said second vertical member, wherein said second vertical member extends substantially perpendicular to said first vertical side of said central vertical member, and wherein said horizontal top edge of said second vertical member is substantially within the same plane as said horizontal top edge of said central vertical member; a horizontal member having a horizontal edge; and, a second hinge member coupling said horizontal edge of said horizontal member proximate to said horizontal top edge of said central vertical member, wherein said horizontal member extends substantially perpendicular to said second vertical side of said central vertical member, and wherein a bottom surface of said horizontal member is substantially parallel to the plane containing said horizontal top edges of said central and second vertical members; wherein each said module is configurable to said stowable configuration by rotating said second vertical member and said horizontal member about their hinged edges toward said central vertical member until said second vertical member and said horizontal member are substantially parallel and adjacent to said central vertical member, 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 member of said first module is supported by said horizontal top edge of said central vertical member or said second vertical member of said second module.