Modular shelving

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9474374-B2
Application number	US-201514730527-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 4, 2015
Priority date	Jun 5, 2014
Publication date	Oct 25, 2016
Grant date	Oct 25, 2016

Abstract

A shelf assembly includes a shelf main body. The shelf assembly further includes a plurality of corner connectors releasably coupled to the shelf main body. Each of the corner connectors is configured to receive at least one post. Each of the corner connectors also has an insert for coupling the corner connectors to the shelf main body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A shelf assembly, comprising:
a shelf main body having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall transversely positioned with respect to the second wall, the shelf main body including a platform and a plurality of hollow box supports extending downwardly from a lower surface of the platform, wherein a receiving portion is formed at a corner of the shelf main body, a first side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the first wall and one of the box supports, a second side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the second wall and the platform, the first side of the receiving portion transversely positioned with respect to the second side of the receiving portion, the receiving portion including a recess formed in the one of the box supports; and
a corner connector releasably coupled to the shelf main body at the receiving portion, the corner connector removably received by the recess of the receiving portion of the shelf main body and configured to receive at least one post,
wherein the first wall and the second wall individually extend from the platform at an outwardly extending angle, the angle facilitating a nesting of the shelf main body with another successive shelf main body.

2. The shelf assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first wall is one of an opposing pair of first walls, and the box supports extend between and are oriented substantially normal to the opposing pair of first walls.

3. The shelf assembly of claim 1 , wherein the corner connector includes an insert that is removably received in the recess of the receiving portion of the shelf main body.

4. The shelf assembly of claim 3 , wherein the insert is tubular and has a shape substantially corresponding to a shape of the recess of the receiving portion of the shelf main body.

5. The shelf assembly of claim 2 , wherein the shelf main body includes a plurality of spaced apart ribs extending outwardly and upwardly from an upper surface of the platform, each of the spaced apart ribs aligned with one of the plurality of the hollow box supports, disposed between the opposing pair of first walls, and oriented substantially parallel with the opposing pair of first walls.

6. A shelf assembly, comprising:
a shelf main body having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall transversely positioned with respect to the second wall, the shelf main body including a platform and a plurality of hollow box supports extending downwardly from a lower surface of the platform, wherein a receiving portion is formed at a corner of the shelf main body, a first side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the first wall and one of the box supports, a second side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the second wall and the platform, the first side of the receiving portion transversely positioned with respect to the second side of the receiving portion, the receiving portion including a recess formed in the one of the box supports; and
a corner connector releasably coupled to the shelf main body at the receiving portion, the corner connector removably received by the recess of the receiving portion of the shelf main body and configured to receive at least one post,
wherein the shelf main body further includes partitions extending downwardly from the lower surface of the platform and interposed between each of the box supports.

7. The shelf assembly of claim 1 , wherein the corner connector includes:
a housing with an inner wall, the inner wall defining an aperture configured to receive and support the at least one post; and
an outer wall that partially envelopes the inner wall, the outer wall configured to align with each of the first wall and the second wall of the shelf main body when the corner connector is releasable coupled to the receiving portion of the shelf main body.

8. The shelf assembly of claim 7 , wherein the inner wall includes protuberances formed thereon, the protuberances being elongate raised strips oriented substantially vertically when the corner connector is coupled to the shelf main body.

9. The shelf assembly of claim 8 , wherein the protuberances facilitate a friction fit between the inner wall and the at least one post.

10. A shelf assembly, comprising:
a shelf main body having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall transversely positioned with respect to the second wall, the shelf main body including a platform and a plurality of hollow box supports extending downwardly from a lower surface of the platform, wherein a receiving portion is formed at a corner of the shelf main body, a first side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the first wall and one of the box supports, a second side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the second wall and the platform, the first side of the receiving portion transversely positioned with respect to the second side of the receiving portion, the receiving portion including a recess formed in the one of the box supports; and
a corner connector releasably coupled to the shelf main body at the receiving portion, the corner connector removably received by the recess of the receiving portion of the shelf main body and configured to receive at least one post,
wherein the corner connector includes a housing with an inner wall, the inner wall defining an aperture configured to receive and support the at least one post, and an outer wall that partially envelopes the inner wall, the outer wall configured to align with each of the first wall and the second wall of the shelf main body when the corner connector is releasable coupled to the receiving portion of the shelf main body, and
wherein the inner wall further includes a ledge formed thereon, which extends radially inwardly from the inner wall, the ledge separating the aperture into an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the aperture configured for receiving an end of one of the at least one post, and the lower portion of the aperture configured for receiving an end of another of the at least one post.

11. The shelf assembly of claim 7 , wherein the corner connector further includes an insert integrally connected to and extending outwardly away from the housing, the insert removably received in the recess of the receiving portion of the shelf main body.

12. A shelf assembly, comprising:
a shelf main body having a first wall and a second wall, the first wall transversely positioned with respect to the second wall, the shelf main body including a platform and a plurality of hollow box supports extending downwardly from a lower surface of the platform, wherein a receiving portion is formed at a corner of the shelf main body, a first side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the first wall and one of the box supports, a second side of the receiving portion defined by a terminal portion of the second wall and the platform, the first side of the receiving portion transversely positioned with respect to the second side of the receiving portion, the receiving portion including a recess formed in the one of the box supports; and
a corner connector releasably coupled to the shelf main body at the receiving portion, the corner connector removably received by the recess of the receiving portion of the shelf main body and configured to receive at least one post,
wherein the corner connector includes a housing with an inner wall, the inner wall defining an aperture configured to receive and support the at least one post, and an outer wall that partially envelopes the inner wall, the outer wall configured to align with each of the first wall and the second wall

Assignees

• Creative Plastic Concepts Llc
• Creative Plastics Concepts Llc

Inventors

• Reinhart Nickolas

Classifications

• A47B47/045

  with four vertical uprights · CPC title

• A47B96/024 Primary

  characterised by support bracket location means, e.g. fixing means between support bracket and shelf (A47B96/028 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A47B96/021 Primary

  Structural features of shelf bases · CPC title

• A47B96/06

  Brackets or similar supporting means for cabinets, racks or shelves ({A47B96/022 takes precedence; } aspects of adjusting height or inclination A47B57/00 {; brackets for the display of articles A47F5/08}) · CPC title

• A47B87/0223

  Shelves stackable by means of poles or tubular members as distance-holders therebetween · CPC title