Modular shoe rack

Claim 2

A side panel capable of being detachably mated with another similar side panel along vertical portions thereof to form a modular display and storage unit, comprising: a. a vertical planar side portion having a ridge extending longitudinally and inwardly along a major portion of the outer edge of a front margin thereof; b. a vertical angled portion comprising a front segment extending inwardly from the ear of said side portion and a rear segment joining the back of said side portion with a vertical rear portion; c. said vertical rear portion extending from said rear segment of said angled portion away from said side portion and having rearwardly extending locking means along at least a portion of a rear margin thereof; d. horizontally spaced means on the inside of said side panel for supporting one side of a shelf, said horizontal support means capable of providing angularly adjustable support for said shelf in a plurality of positions; and e. integral horizontal support flanges extending inwardly along the top and bottom of at least a portion of said side panel.

Claim 3

An article according to claim 1, wherein said side portion is rectangular.

Claim 4

An article according to claim 1, wherein said angled portion includes at least one planar segment.

Claim 5

An article according to claim 3, wherein said angled portion is planar.

Claim 6

An article according to claim 3, wherein said planar segment is rectangular.

Claim 7

An article according to claim 1, wherein said rear portion is planar.

Claim 8

An article according to claim 6, wherein said rear portion is generally perpendicular to said side portion.

Claim 9

An article according to claim 6, wherein said rear portion is rectangular.

Claim 10

An article according to claim 1, wherein said side portion and said rear portion are rectangular.

Claim 11

An article according to claim 1, wherein said side portion, said angled portion, and said rear portion are integrally formed.

Claim 12

An article according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal support means comprise vertically spaced projections.

Claim 13

An article according to claim 11, wherein said projections extend longitudinally along the top and bottom respectively of said side panel.

Claim 14

An article according to claim 11, wherein said horizontal support means are support pegs.

Claim 15

An article according to claim 1, wherein said horizontal support means comprises a front pivotal shelf locking member and a plurality of vertically spaced rear shelf support members.

Claim 16

An article according to claim 1, wherein said locking means has a first portion thereof extending outwardly along a rear edge of said rear portion, and a second portion angled therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to said side portion.

Claim 17

An article according to claim 1, further including a countersunk aperture formed through the front margin of said side portion spaced inwardly from said ridge, and rib reinforcement means surrounding said aperture on the inside of said side panel.

Claim 18

An article according to claim 16, further including pivotal interengaging means insertable into said aperture.

Claim 19

An article according to claim 6, wherein said horizontal support means comprises a plurality of vertically spaced support pins extending inwardly along said side portion.

Claim 20

A modular storage and display unit comprising a pair of side panel members according to claim 1 mated with each other along the rear portions thereof.

Claim 21

An article according to claim 19, further including a locking channel member securely engaging a corresponding pair of said locking means.

Claim 22

A plurality of articles according to claim 20, stacked one on top of the other, and having a common locking channel member.

Claim 23

A plurality of articles according to claim 21, arraNged in a plurality of adjacent rows, and further including channel members encompassing adjacent side portion ridges.

Claim 24

A plurality of articles according to claim 19, arranged in a group of tiers of stacked members, each tier facing inwardly and the rear portions of each unit forming a central hollow core, the tiers being in a generally circular relationship with respect to each other.

Claim 25

An article according to claim 21, wherein said locking channel member is an integral butterfly shaped member comprising a pair of outwardly angled longitudinally extending members adapted to fit snugly into a corresponding pair of recesses formed between the rear locking flange and rectangular rear portion of said side panel, said longitudinally extending members being of a length approximately equal to the length of said side panel and being joined to each other at the mid point along their length by an integral central crosspiece, said side panels being notched to receive said crosspiece at both the top and bottom thereof a depth equal to half the length of said crosspiece.

Claim 26

An article of manufacture capable of being assembled into a modular display and storage unit, comprising a pair of similar side panels matable with each other along rear portions thereof and a support shelf having exterior dimensions corresponding to the inner dimensions enclosed by a mated pair of side panels, said side panels each being characterized by: a. a vertical planar side portion having ridge means extending longitudinally and inwardly along a major portion of the outer edge of a front margin thereof; b. a vertical angled portion comprising a front segment extending inwardly from the rear of said side portion and a rear segment joining the back of said side portion with a vertical rear portion; c. said vertical rear portion extending from said rear segment of said angled portion away from said side portion and having rearwardly extending locking means along at least a portion of a rear margin thereof; d. means for supporting one side of said support shelf in at least one position on the inside of each said side panel; and e. integral horizontal support flanges extending inwardly along the top and bottom of at least a portion of said side panel.

Claim 27

An article of manufacture capable of being assembled into a modular display and storage unit, comprising a pair of similar side panels matable with each other along rear portions thereof and a support shelf having exterior dimensions corresponding to the inner dimensions enclosed by a mated pair of side panels, said side panels each being characterized by: a. a vertical planar side portion having ridge means extending longitudinally and inwardly along a major portion of the outer edge of a front margin thereof; b. a vertical angled portion comprising a front segment extending inwardly from the rear of said side portion and a rear segment joining the back of said side portion with a vertical rear portion; c. said vertical rear portion extending from said rear segment of said angled portion away from said side portion and having rearwardly extending locking means along at least a portion of a rear margin thereof; d. means for supporting one side of said support shelf in at least one position on the inside of each said side panel; and e. integral horizontal support flanges extending inwardly along the top and bottom of at least a portion of said side panel.

Claim 28

An article according to claim 25, wherein said means (d) comprise vertically spaced projections.

Claim 29

An article according to claim 26, wherein said projections extend longitudinally along the top and bottom respectively of said side panel.

Claim 30

An article according to claim 26, wherein said projections are support pegs.

Claim 31

An article according to claim 25, wherein said means (d) comprise a front pivotal shelf locking member and a plurality of vertically spaced rear shelf support members.

Claim 32

An article according to claim 25, wherein said locking means has a first portion therof extending outwardly along a rear edge of said rear portion, and a second portion angled therefrom in a direction generally perpendicular to said side portion.

Claim 33

An article according to claim 25, further including a countersunk aperture formed through the front margin of said side portion spaced inwardly from said ridge, and rib reinforcement means surrounding said aperture on the inside of said side panel.

Claim 34

An article according to claim 31, further including pivotal interengaging means insertable into said aperture.

Claim 35

An article according to claim 32, wherein said means (d) comprises a plurality of vertically spaced support pins extending inwardly along said side portion.