Patent Application
20240251942
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/441,352 filed on Jan. 26, 2023 and entitled “MODULAR SHELVING AND METHOD”, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference.
The present invention may relate to modular shelving comprising a set of spaced-apart mounting brackets that may be connected by a bottom shelving rod and a bottom a top shelving rod, the bottom shelving rod generally held in a lower horizontal position while a top shelving rod generally held in an upper horizontal position, the bottom shelving rod may be placed adjacent to a vertical surface by the mounting brackets while the top shelving rod may be placed distal from the vertical surface by the mounting brackets. More specifically, the present invention may relate to such modular shelving further comprising one or more parallel and spaced-apart support shelving rods passing through the top shelving rod to reach and be received by the bottom shelving rod.
One kind of modular shelving may comprise a set of mounting brackets and at least a set of connecting rods that may act as shelving. Wherein the mounting bracket (which could have an L-shaped configuration generally denoting vertical bracket arm connected to a horizontal bracket arm) may be placed in a spaced-apart configuration to engage a vertical structure (e.g., a wall) and thereby connect the modular shelving to said vertical structure. Each mounting bracket may further feature a set of spaced-apart rod apertures penetrating the mounting bracket (continuously connecting the mounting bracket sides.) The one group of rod apertures of the set of rod apertures may be aligned in tandem in vertical bracket arm while another group of rod apertures may be aligned in tandem in horizontal bracket arm.
Each rod of the set of connecting rods may engage and rest within respectively aligned apertures of respective mounting brackets to generally form the horizontal shelf portion of the modular shelving. Other rods from the set may also be passed through other vertically oriented mounting bracket apertures to provide a generally vertical wall counterpart to the generally horizontally shelf.
Such a modular shelving is generally a simple, easy and inexpensive way to erect vertical and horizontally shelving. This modular shelving may be limited to establishing horizontal, vertical or both shelving positions. These kinds of module shelving systems may not be able to provide an additional wide variety of additional angled shelfing configurations (e.g., located between horizontal and vertical positions) that may be used to hold a wide variety of materials or items that may require such angled and reconfigurable shelving. Such items may be tools such as hammers, screwdrivers, chisels, rolls of materials (e.g., rolls of tape), various shaped power tools, and the like whose storage could befit by having reconfigurable angled shelving.
The various embodiments of the present invention may, but do not necessarily, achieve one or more of the following advantages:
These and other advantages may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification, claims, and abstract.
One possible embodiment of the invention could be a modular shelving system comprising at least one support shelving rod and mounting brackets for supporting at least one bottom shelving rod and at least one top shelving rod; each mounting bracket further comprising an attachment device for attaching the mounting bracket to a vertical support, the at least one bottom shelving rod further configured to tandemly present a series of longitudinally-aligned open-ended cups, each open-ended cup further configured to receive and support a portion of the at least one support shelving rod, the at least one top shelving rod configured to tandemly present a series of longitudinally-aligned top rod apertures, each top rod aperture configured to allow passage of the portion of the at least one support shelving rod; wherein the mounting brackets support both the at least one top shelving rod and the at least one bottom rod, the least one top shelving rod being held above the at least one bottom rod, both the at least one top shelving rod and the at least one bottom rod are supporting the at least one support shelving rod in an angled position held between and horizontal position and a vertical position.
Another possible embodiment of the invention could be a modular shelving system comprising a set of mounting brackets, at least one bottom shelving rod, at least one top shelving rod and at least one support shelving rod, the mounting brackets may be configured for attachment to a vertical surface and for directly supporting at least one bottom shelving rod, at least one top shelving rod, the at least one top shelving rod passing through the at least one top shelving rod and coming to rest in the at least bottom shelving rod when the mounting brackets are attached to a vertical surface, the mounting brackets further are directly supporting the at least one bottom shelving rod and the at least one top shelving rod, wherein the at least one support shelving rod is held in angled position between horizontal and vertical orientations as well as being perpendicularly oriented to both at least one bottom shelving rod and the at least one top shelving rod.
Another possible embodiment of the invention could be a method for operating a modular shelving system comprising the follow steps, providing the modular operating system comprising a set of mounting brackets, at least one bottom shelving rod, at least one top shelving rod and at least one support shelving rod, the mounting brackets directly supporting at least one bottom shelving rod and at least one top shelving rod, the at least one support rod passing through the at least one top shelving rod and coming to rest in the at least bottom shelving rod when the mounting brackets are attached to a vertical surface, wherein the at least one support shelving rod is held in angled position between horizontal and vertical orientations as well as being perpendicularly oriented to both the at least one bottom shelving rod and the at least one top shelving rod, attaching the at least one bottom shelving rod and the at least one top shelving rod to the mounting brackets, passing the at least one support rod perpendicularly through the at least one top shelving rod so that one end of the at least one support rod rests within the bottom shelving rod; and holding the at least one support rod in a position between a horizontal and vertical positions.
The above description sets forth, rather broadly, a summary of one embodiment of the present invention so that the detailed description that follows may be better understood and contributions of the present invention to the art may be better appreciated. Some of the embodiments of the present invention may not include all of the features or characteristics listed in the above summary. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described below and will form the subject matter of claims. In this respect, before explaining at least one preferred embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the construction and to the arrangement of the components set forth in the following description or as illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this application. The drawings show, by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The present invention 10 may be a modular shelving system 30 and a method for operating same 100. As substantially shown in
As substantially shown in
Depending on the shelving needs, one possible orientation for the mounting bracket(s) 32 could present the foot portion 42 at the bottom of the leg portion 40. Another possible orientation (not shown) for the mounting bracket(s) 32 could have the mounting bracket 32 be inverted and present the foot portion 42 at the top of the leg portion 40.
When the attached mounting brackets 32 are placed or otherwise oriented to have the foot portion 48 project outward from the bottom of the leg portion 40, the leg portion 40 can used to support the top shelving rod(s)36 while the foot portion 48 may be used to support the bottom shelving rod(s). When the foot portion 48 projects outward from the top of the leg portion 40, the foot portion 48 may be used to support the bottom shelving rod(s) 34 while the leg portion 40 may be used to support the top shelving rod(s) 36. In either version, the attached mounting brackets 32 could support the top shelving rods 36 in a position that may be higher or above the position of the supported bottom shelving rods 34. This height relationship could generally allow a support shelving rod 38 to partially pass through the generally upper placed top shelving rod 36 and have one top rod end of the support shelving rod come to rest in the generally lower placed bottom shelving rod 34.
The mounting bracket 32 could further define a plurality of rod apertures 44 could penetrate the mounting bracket 32 to continuously connect the two sides of the mounting bracket 32. The plurality of rod apertures 44 could comprise a set of leg rod apertures 46 located in the leg portion 40 and a set of foot rod apertures 48 located in the foot portion 42. Each set of foot rod apertures 48 may be spaced apart and linearly aligned in tandem to have a generally horizontal orientation e.g., when the mounting bracket 32 is attached to a vertical structure 12, like a wall.) Leg rod apertures 46 may be spaced-apart, linearly aligned in tandem, and generally be vertically oriented in the leg portion 40 (e.g., when the mounting bracket 32 may be attached to a vertical structure 12, such as a wall.)
In one possible embodiment, the rod apertures 44 of two or more mounting brackets 32 mounted to a vertical surface in a spaced apart fashion could removably receive rod ends 64, 70 of the top shelving rod(s) 36 and bottom shelving rod(s) 34 to suitable support the top shelving rods and bottom shelving rods. In another possible embodiment, where two or more mounting brackets 32 attached to a vertical surface 12 in a spaced-apart fashion could have the foot portions 42 located at the top of the leg portions, the rod apertures 44 could support only the bottom shelving rod(s) 34 while the top rod ends 70 of the top shelving rod(s) 36 may rest upon the tops of the foot portions 42 and generally would not otherwise engage the rod apertures 44. By moving the top shelving rod 36 along the tops of the supporting mounting brackets 32, the position of the support shelving rod 38 (as passing through the top shelving rod 36 to connect to the bottom shelving rod 34) could be adjusted between horizontal and vertical positions. As the support shelving rod's position is being adjusted, the support shelving rod 38 could further rotate the bottom shelving rod 34, which could be movably supported by respective rod apertures 44.
The modular shelving system 30 could further comprise an attachment device 50 for attaching the mounting bracket 32 to a vertical surface 12 (e.g., a wall). In one version, the attachment device 50 could be based upon a French cleat system 52. As substantially shown in
In another version not shown, the leg portion could further form an open channel or cutout that may form a reciprocal slanted bottom edge and have the ability to receive at least a portion of the first molding or like.
In another embodiment not shown, the attachment device 50 could comprise multiple double open-ended fastener channels (not shown) as generally defined by the leg portion 40 through which fasteners (e.g., screws) could pass through the mounting bracket 32 to attach the mounting bracket 32 to a vertical surface 12. Other attachment devices 50 could be used as well to attach the mounting brackets 32 to the vertical surface 12 and still be considered part of the invention 10.
As substantially shown in
The bottom shelving rod 34 could be supported by rod apertures 44 of at least two-spaced apart mounting brackets 32 removably mounted to a vertical surface 12. More specifically, in one version, the bottom shelving rod 34 could be inserted and resting upon respective rod apertures 44 of the leg portions 40 of the respective mounting brackets.
As substantially shown in
The bottom shelving rods 34 could further define a set of spaced-apart, tandem, longitudinally aligned support apertures 124 that penetrate the bottom shelving rod 34 to continuously connect with the bottom rod hollow interior XX. Each support aperture 124 could be removably receive and support one support rod end 68 of a respective support shelving rod 38. In passing through a respective support aperture 124, the support shelving rod end 68 could then come to rest upon a solid (i.e., unpenetrated) wall section of bottom shelving rod 34 that is located opposite of the said support aperture 124.
As substantially shown in
As substantially shown in
The top shelving rods 36 could further define two sets of spaced-apart, tandem, longitudinally aligned top support apertures 124 that penetrate the bottom shelving rod 34 to continuously connect with the top rod hollow interior 126. One set of top support apertures 124 could be located opposite from the other set of top support apertures 124. The sets of top support apertures 124 could be so aligned to substantially allow passage of support shelving rods 38 through top shelving rod 36. In passing through a respective pair of aligned support apertures 124 (e.g., on the front and back sides of the top shelving rod 36, the support shelving rod end 68 could then come to rest in a respective open-ended cup 66.
As substantially shown in
As substantially shown in
A set of support shelving rods 38 could pass through a generally upper located top shelving rod 36 in a spaced-apart manner (e.g., via the top shelving rod's set of top rod apertures 72/top support apertures 130) and then rest into the set of open-ended cups 66 of a generally lower located bottom shelving rod 34. This rod orientation may be followed whether the mounting bracket has the foot portion location extending outward from the top or bottom of the leg portion. This interaction may allow those support shelving rods 38 to be held in an angled relationship between vertical and horizontal orientations to create the new shelving positions.
Items or materials (not shown) stored upon the support shelving rods may have portions (not shown) that need to project between supporting shelving rods 38 to properly rest upon the supporting shelving rods 38. The present embodiment of the invention 10 through fixed spacings between open ended cups 66 of the bottom shelving rod 34 and the fixed spacings between the top rod apertures 72 could result in fixed spacing between the support shelving rods 38 that may only accommodate items, tools or materials of similar dimensions or sizes. It may be necessary to be able to adjust or change the spacing between the support shelving rods 38 to accommodate a wider range of objects having different shapes and sizes that can be held by the support shelving rods 38.
As substantially shown in
The adjustable strut assembly 140 could comprise mounting brackets 32, at least one adjustable bottom shelving strut 142, at least one adjustable top shelving strut 144 and one or more support shelving rods 38. The adjustable bottom shelving strut 142 could comprise pair of rails 146 having a lateral C-cross section 146 with a hollow rail interior with a longitudinal, open-center channel 150, two endcaps, and one or more open-ended cup fittings 156. The rails 146 could be held apart in parallel orientation by the two endcaps 152 located at respective ends of the rail pair to hold the rails 146 in a spaced-apart and parallel orientation so that each longitudinal open center channel 150 could face the other longitudinal open center channel 150.
The endcap 152 could have a rod (e.g., solid) or tube (e.g., hollow) body 158 wherein a pair of T-rail sections 160 could be longitudinally mounted on the body 158 with one T-rail section 160 could be located on a top of the body 158 while the other T-rail section 160 is longitudinally mounted opposite on a bottom of the body 158. Generally, the length of the T-rails section 160 is shorter than the length of the body 1587. The T-rail sections 160 could be located at the same end of the body 158, allowing the other end of the body 158 to be unencumbered by the T-rail presence and be removably and moveably received by a respective rod aperture 44.
The endcap 152 could engage an end of the rail pair by having the T-rail sections 160 move along respective longitudinal open center channels 150 until the T rail sections 160 have engaged with the rail hollow interiors 148 to hold the rails 146 in a spaced-apart and parallel orientation. The endcap 152 could be permanently attached to the rail pairs 146 by suitable means such as adhesive, fasteners (screws), snap held, and the like.
In between the two endcaps 152 could be the one or more open-ended cup fittings 156 (that could removably receive and support respective support rod ends 68) that are movable located between the two railings 146 (e.g., the endcaps movably engaging the two open center channels. The one or more the open-ended cup fittings 156 could be positioned along the lengths of the railing pair as needed to adjust spacing between adjacent the support shelving rod(s).
The open-ended cap fittings 156 could comprise a single open-ended tube 162 that is sealed at one end and open at the other end with square or rectangular shaped flange 164 projected laterally outward from the center of the single open-ended tube 162. At the top and bottom of the flange 164 is a T-projection 162 that movably engages the respective hollow rail interior 148 and allows the open-end cup fitting 156 to move along the open center channels 150.
The adjustable top shelving strut 144 is similarly constructed to adjustable bottom shelving strut 142. The adjustable top shelving strut 144 has the aperture fittings 164 instead of open-ended cup fittings 156. The aperture fittings 164 are quite similar to the open-ended cup fittings 156 except that aperture fitting 164 has a double-opened tube 170 instead of the single open-ended tube 162 to allow passage of the support shelving rod.
Adjusting the positions of the open-ended cup fittings 156 and the aperture fittings 164 along the lengths of their respective rail pairs 146, the spacing between the various support shelving rods 38 of the adjustable strut assembly 140 can be adjusted as desired or needed to accommodate various tools and other objects that may have dissimilar dimensions and shapes that are being held by the adjustable strut assembly between the support shelving rods or in (not shown) hollow open-ended support shelving rods.
As substantially shown in
The selected shelving version(s) could first depend first on two or more mounting brackets being attached to a vertical structure (e.g., should be positioned as L-Shaped (vertical portion is generally located above the horizontal portion) or as inverted L-shape (vertical portion is generally located below the horizontal portion). The attachment system for attaching the mounting brackets could be chosen next (e.g., French cleat, fastener and the like). The operator could then obtain the necessary shelving materials such attachment device(s), bottom shelving rods, top shelving rods, and support shelving rods and the like. Once this step is substantially completed, the process could proceed to step 104, attaching the mounting brackets.
At step 104, attaching mounting brackets could include attaching mounting bracket to vertical surface. If a French cleat or like is used, the molding or like could be horizontally affixed to the vertical surface for the mounting brackets to rest upon, removably and movably engage the vertical surface. The mounting brackets could be placed upon the molding (with the mounting brackets oriented in ether L-shaped configuration or inverted L-shaped configuration) and be spaced apart from one and other. In this manner, a pair of mounting brackets can be used to make one portion of the shelving, by increasing/decreasing the spacing between the two mounting brackets to allow top and bottom shelving rods to be fitted between and into the mounting bracket pair. In reverse this allows the built shelving structure to be easily taken apart and down, to allow the same pieces to be reused to make soma or different angled shelving.
If a different attachment device, such as fasteners (e.g., screws), then the mounting brackets, top and bottom rods may be first assembled into the desired shelving unit and then said assembled desired shelving unit may then be attached intact to the vertical surface by fasteners.
When this step is substantially completed, the process 100 may proceed to step 106 affixing the top and bottom shelving rods.
In step 106, affixing top and bottom shelving rods, the mounting brackets could be spaced apart to allow the bottom shelving rod to have one rod end be placed in one of the rod apertures of a leg portion of one mounting bracket. In one version, the top shelving rod could also have one rod end placed in the rod aperture of the foot portion of the one mounting bracket. In another version, the top shelving bracket is placed to rest its respective rod ends atop the respective foot portions of the pair of mounting brackets.
When this step is substantially completed, the process 100 may proceed to step 108 affixing the support shelving rods.
In step 108, affixing the support shelving rods, a support rod end can be inserted through a top rod aperture to generally allow the passage of a portion of the support rod through the top rod aperture so the support rod end may come into general contact and rest in with an open-ended cup of the bottom support rod, the open-ended cup being generally aligned with the respective top rod aperture. This support shelving rods insertion action can be repeated to introduce more support shelving rods to create the angular modular shelving unit that is desired.
When this step is substantially completed, the process 100 may proceed to step 110 utilizing the constructed modular shelving unit.
Although the description above contains many specifications, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents rather than by the examples given.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63441352 | Jan 2023 | US |
