Unitary modular shelving structure

Claim 2

A modular rectangular shelving structure comprising four rectangularly arranged modular substantially rectangular platelike members each having a substantially planar base portion and side walls and end walls perpendicular to said base portion; a plurality of axially elongated protrusions associated with said upwardly extending side walls and extending outwardly therefrom; a protrusion being associated with each respective side wall of a pair of adjacent plate-like members; and a plurality of insertable connectors means operatively connecting said modular plate-like members together to form said module, said connector means having four rectangularly arranged, axially extending faces and a pair of end faces, each axially extending face of said connector means being provided with a groove complementary to a protrusion for reception therein and terminating in at least one of said end faces, whereby four of said connector means in receiving relation with adjacent pairs of protrusions at the four corners defined by said four rectangularly arranged plate-like members hold said plate-like members in said rectangular array.

Claim 3

A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said protrusions are located on said side walls adjacent said end walls and extend partially along said respective side walls; and an abuttable orientation member longitudinally extends between said protrusions so as to provide for proper orientation of an adjacent plate-like member in abutting relation therewith.

Claim 4

A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said groove has a neck portion and a locking cavity portion, said locking cavity portion being larger in area than said neck portion so as to retain said protrusion in said groove after reception therein.

Claim 5

A structure in accordance with claim 3 wherein said connector means is rectangular and having a square cross-section, said groove is a longitudinally extending arrowhead-shaped groove, each of said axially extending faces being substantially identical, and said complementary protrusion has an arrowhead configuration comprising a rib portion complementary to said groove neck portion and a connecting portion complementary to said locking cavity portion.

Claim 6

A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said plurality of plate-like members in said array comprises two upright members and a bottom and a top horizontal member, said upright members having pluggable apertures therein; U-shaped pluggable clamps in said apertures at the innermost side of said upright members at a desired shelf height; a shelf slidably insertable within said U-shaped clamps; said recess opening to the outermost side of said upright portion; and a capping member insertable in each of said recesses substantially flush with the outer edges of said upright portions.

Claim 7

A structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plurality of plate-like members in said rectangular array comprises two upright and a bottom and a top horizontal member, said bottom and said top horizontal members having pluggable apertures therein; and a pluggable substantially rectangular member complementary to an opening formed within the rectangular array at one side thereof adjacent said upright members, said pluggable member being pluggable in a side of the top and bottom members.

Claim 8

A structure in accordance with claim 6, wherein said pluggable member is pivotally mounted in the top and bottom members solely due to insertion in only one side thereof.

Claim 9

A structure in accordance with claim 2 wherein said grooves terminate in both said end faces, and said structure further includes a pair of perpendicularly arranged cap members longitudinally extending along said respective walls and insertable in each of said grooves unoccupied by a protrusion; each of said cap members'' outermost side being substantially flush with a contiguously related plate-like member at said common junction point to provide a continuous peripheral edge at said common junction point; each of said cap members'' innermost side having tongue-like protrusions and a portion complementary to said adjacent abuttable orientation member, said protrusions being complementary to said grooves and insertable therein.

Claim 10

A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said perpendicular side walls each have an angularly related portion, said angularly related portion including a plurality of apertures therein, said angularly related apertures being registerable with said angularly related apertures of an adjacent plate-like member placed in abutting relation therewith so as to form a continuous passageway therethrough; and a connecting member insertable in said continuous passageway and lockable therein to retain said abutting members in position.

Claim 11

A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said module is a substantially rectangular array; each of said plate-like members comprises two half plate-like members in abutting relation; each of said half plate-like members comprises a substantially planar base portion and side walls and end walls extending upwardly from said base portion, each of said side walls having a half protrusion extending ouTwardly therefrom, said side walls each having an angularly related portion, said angularly related portion comprising an outwardly extending angularly related abuttable member having grooves therein, said angularly related abuttable member and said grooves therein being complementary to said angularly related abuttable member of an adjacent half plate-like member placed in abutting relation therewith so as to form a continuous passageway therethrough; said half plate-like member planar base portion includes a plurality of grooves therein, said base grooves being registerable with said base grooves of said other half plate-like member comprising said plate-like member so as to form a continuous passageway therethrough, said half protrusions being complementary so as to form said protrusions; and a threaded member insertable in said continuous passageway and lockable therein so as to retain said abutting members in position.

Claim 12

A structure in accordance with claim 10 wherein: a panel-like member extends substantially between said side walls and is mateable with an abutting plate-like member, said panel-like member having apertures therein registerable with said abutting plate-like member base grooves, to form a continuous passageway therethrough, said connecting member being insertable in said continuous passageway and lockable therein to retain said panel in abutting relation with said plate-like member.

Claim 13

A structure in accordance with claim 1 wherein said modular plate-like members and said tongue-like protrusions and said connector means are integral and made of synthetic plastic.