Shelf system

Claim 2

An adjustable and removable shelf assembly comprising: a pair of rear vertical spaced supports having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein; a pair of opposed, spaced front vertical supports having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein; and a removable shelf to be supported between the rear supports and the front supports, said shelf comprising; a first rigid, non-flexing unitary edge member defining the outermost rear edge of the shelf and terminating in outwardly facing hooked projections for insertion into the openings of the rear vertical supports, a second unitary edge member defining the outermost front edge of the shelf and terminating in outwardly facing hooked projections, said second edge member being a flat strap with resiliently flexural ends permitting the hooked projections on opposing ends to be flexed inwardly for inserting said hooked projections into the openings of the front vertical supports while the hooked projections of the first edge member are engaged in the openings of the rear vertical support, shelf means formed of a rigid, non-flexing network of transverse and longitudinal supports, said transverse supports rigidly interconnecting substantially the full length of said first unitary edge member to a partial centrally located length of the second unitary edge member to provide a rigid, non-flexing support surface of the shelf and to define resiliently flexural ends on only the second edge member.

Claim 3

The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said rear vertical supports and front vertical supports is an open channel post with the vertically spaced openings in the central portion of the open channel post.

Claim 4

The assembly of claim 2 wherein the open channels of the channel posts forming said rear vertical supports face inwardly toward the open channels of the channel posts forming said front vertical supports.

Claim 5

The assembly of claim 1 wherein said front and rear edge members have inwardly curved and outwardly returning end portions terminating with said outwardly facing hooked projections.

Claim 6

The assembly of claim 1 wherein: the longitudinal supports are disposed substantially parallel to said first and second edge members; and the transverse intersecting supports are rigidly attached to said longitudinal supports, said transverse intersecting supports substantially perpendicular to said outermost edge members and interconnecting substantially the full length of the first unitary edge member with a partial centrally located length of the second of said unitary edge members.

Claim 7

In an adjustable and removable shelf assembly, rear vertical support means on said shelf assembly for removably supporting the rear of a shelf and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, a removable shelf having a forward longitudinal member and a rearward longitudinal member spaced from and parallel to said forward member, insertion means on said rearward longitudinal member for insertion into respective openings in said rear vertical support means to position and support said shelf thereon, opposed, spaced front vertical support means for removably supporting the front of a shelf and each support means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings facing said rear vertical support means, said forward longitudinal member having at its ends terminal insertion portions projecting perpendicularly to the length of said longitudinal member and in a frontwise direction, and having end portions free to flex resiliently permitting the projections on opposing ends to be flexed inwardly for inserting said projections into the openings of the front vertical supports while the projections of said rearward member of said shelf are engaged in the openings of the rear vertical supports, shelf means formed of a rigid non-flexing network of transverse and longitudinal supports, said transverse supports rigidly interconnecting substantially the full length of the rearward longitudinal member to a partial centrally located length of said forward longitudinal member to provide a rigid non-flexing support surface of the shelf and to define resiliently flexural ends on only said forward longitudinal member, said terminal insertion portions being insertable into openings in said front vertical support means by first flexing said end portions rearwardly until said terminal insertion portions are aligned with the desired openings, then releasing said end portions to permit said terminal insertion portions to enter said openings by moving from rear to front.

Claim 8

In an adjustable and removable shelf assembly, rear vertical support means on said shelf assembly for removably supporting the rear of a shelf and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, a removable shelf having a forward longitudinal member and a rearward longitudinal member spaced from and parallel to said forward member, insertion means on said rearward longitudinal member for insertion into respective openings in said rear vertical support means to position and support said shelf thereon, opposed, spaced front vertical support means for removably supporting the front of a shelf and each support means having a plurality of vertically spaced openings facing said rear vertical support means, said forward longitudinal member having at its ends terminal insertion portions projecting perpendicularly to the length of said longitudinal member and in a frontwise direction, and having end portions free to flex resiliently permitting the projections on opposing ends to be flexed inwardly for inserting said projections into the openings of the front vertical supports while the projections of said rearward member of said shelf are engaged in the openings of the rear vertical supports, shelf means formed of a rigid non-flexing network of transverse and longitudinal supports, said transverse supports rigidly interconnecting substantially the full length of the rearward longitudinal member to a partial centrally located length of said forward longitudinal member to provide a rigid non-flexing support surface of the shelf and to define resiliently flexural ends on only said forward longitudinal member, said terminal insertion portions being insertable into openings in said front vertical support means by first flexing said end portions rearwardly until said terminal insertion portions are aligned with the desired openings, then releasing said end portions to permit said terminal insertion portions to enter said openings by moving from rear to front.

Claim 9

In an adjustable and removable shelf assembly: rear vertical, spaced support members on said shelf assembly for removably supporting the rear of a shelf and each having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, a removable shelf having a forward longitudinal member and a rearward longitudinal member spaced from and parallel to said forward member, terminal insertion portions on said rearward longitudinal member for insertion into respective openings in said rear vertical support means to position said shelf thereon, opposed, spaced front vertical support members for removably supporting the front of a shelf and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, said forward longitudinal member having at its ends front terminal insertion portions projecting perpendicularly to the length of said longitudinal member, and having end portions free to flex resiliently permitting the projections on opposing ends to be flexed inwardly for inserting said projections into the openings of the front vertical supports while the projections of the rear of said shelf are engaged in the openings of the rear vertical supports, the distance between front and rear terminal insertion portions being greater than the fixed distance between the front and rear support means, whereby said end portions must be flexed from front to rear in order to install and remove said shelf, shelf means formed of a rigid non-flexing network of transverse and longitudinal supports, said transverse supports rigidly interconnecting substantially the full length of the rearward longitudinal member to a partial centrally located length of said forward longitudinal member to provide a rigid non-flexing support surface of the shelf and to define resiliently flexural ends on only said forward longitudinal member, said terminal insertion portions being insertable into openings in said front vertical support means by first flexing said free end portions rearwardly until said terminal insertion portions are aligned with the desired openings, then releasing said terminal insertion portions to enter said openings by moving from rear to front.

Claim 10

In an adjustable and removable shelf assembly: rear vertical, spaced support members on said shelf assembly for removably supporting the rear of a shelf and each having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, a removable shelf having a forward longitudinal member and a rearward longitudinal member spaced from and parallel to said forward member, terminal insertion portions on said rearward longitudinal member for insertion into respective openings in said rear vertical support means to position said shelf thereon, opposed, spaced front vertical support members for removably supporting the front of a shelf and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, said forward longitudinal member having at its ends front terminal insertion portions projecting perpendicularly to the length of said longitudinal member, and having end portions free to flex resiliently permitting the projections on opposing ends to be flexed inwardly for inserting said projections into the openings of the front vertical supports while the projections of the rear of said shelf are engaged in the openings of the rear vertical supports, the distance between front and rear terminal insertion portions being greater than the fixed distance between the front and rear support means, whereby said end portions must be flexed from front to rear in order to install and remove said shelf, shelf means formed of a rigid non-flexing network of transverse and longitudinal supports, said transverse supports rigidly interconnecting substantially the full length of the rearward longitudinal member to a partial centrally located length of said forward longitudinal member to provide a rigid non-flexing support surface of the shelf and to define resiliently flexural ends on only said forward longitudinal member, said terminal insertion portions being insertable into openings in said front vertical support means by first flexing said free end portions rearwardly until said terminal insertion portions are aligned with the desired openings, then releasing said terminal insertion portions to enter said openings by moving from rear to front.

Claim 11

A shelf assembly as in claim 7 in which each of said forward and rearward longitudinal members are flat straps having a vertical width substantially greater than its thickness, each said strap supporting said terminal insertion portion against vertical flexing.

Claim 12

A shelf assembly as in claim 8 in which each said strap has an angulated end portion which surrounds a portion of the adjacent vertical support member.

Claim 13

An adjustable and removable shelf assembly comprising: rear vertical, spaced posts for removably supporting the rear of a shelf and each having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, a removable shelf having a forward longitudinal member and a rearward longitudinal member spaced from and parallel to said forward member, terminal insertion portions on said rearward longitudinal member for insertion into respective openings in said rear posts to position said shelf thereon, opposed, spaced front vertical posts for removably supporting the front of a shelf and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, said forward longitudinal member having at its ends front terminal insertion portions projecting perpendicularly to the length of said longitudinal member, and having end portions free to flex resiliently permitting the projections on opposing ends to be flexed inwardly for inserting said projections into the openings of the front vertical posts while the projections of said rearward member of said shelf are engaged in the openings of the rear vertical posts, the distance between front and rear terminal insertion portions being greater than the fixed distance between the front and rear posts, whereby said end portions must be flexed from front to rear in order to install and remove said shelf, said terminal insertion portions being insertable into openings in said front posts by first flexing said free end portions rearwardly until said terminal insertion portions are aligned with the desired openings, then releasing said terminal insertion portions to enter said openings by moving from rear to front, shelf means formed of a rigid non-flexing network of transverse and longitudinal supports, said transverse supports rigidly interconnecting substantially the full length of the rearward longitudinal member to a partial centrally located length of said forward longitudinal member to provide a rigid non-flexing support surface of the shelf and to define resiliently flexural ends on only said forward longitudinal member, said forward longitudinal member being a flat strap and said rearward longitudinal member being a flat strap, said straps having a vertical width substantially greater than its thickness, each strap supporting said terminal insertion portion against flexing in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said shelf while permitting flexure in the plane of said shelf, each said strap having an angulated end portion which surrounds a portion of said post.

Claim 14

An adjustable and removable shelf assembly comprising: rear vertical, spaced posts for removably supporting the rear of a shelf and each having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, a removable shelf having a forward longitudinal member and a rearward longitudinal member spaced from and parallel to said forward member, terminal insertion portions on said rearward longitudinal member for insertion into respective openings in said rear posts to position said shelf thereon, opposed, spaced front vertical posts for removably supporting the front of a shelf and having a plurality of vertically spaced openings therein, said forward longitudinal member having at its ends front terminal insertion portions projecting perpendicularly to the length of said longitudinal member, and having end portions free to flex resiliently permitting the projections on opposing ends to be flexed inwardly for inserting said projections into the openings of the front vertical posts while the projections of said rearward member of said shelf are engaged in the openings of the rear vertical posts, the distance between front and rear terminal insertion portions being greater than the fixed distance between the front and rear posts, whereby said end portions must be flexed from front to rear in order to install and remove said shelf, said terminal insertion portions being insertable into openings in said front posts by first flexing said free end portions rearwardly until said terminal insertion portions are aligned with the desired openings, then releasing said terminal insertion portions to enter said openings by moving from rear to front, shelf means formed of a rigid non-flexing network of transverse and longitudinal supports, said transverse supports rigidly interconnecting substantially the full length of the rearward longitudinal member to a partial centrally located length of said forward longitudinal member to provide a rigid non-flexing support surface of the shelf and to define resiliently flexural ends on only said forward longitudinal member, said forward longitudinal member being a flat strap and said rearward longitudinal member being a flat strap, said straps having a vertical width substantially greater than its thickness, each strap supporting said terminal insertion portion against flexing in a direction perpendicular to the plane of said shelf while permitting flexure in the plane of said shelf, each said strap having an angulated end portion which surrounds a portion of said post.