Screen and shelving system

Claim 1

A room dividing system comprising: a plurality of generally planar vertical panels, certain of said panels having a width equal to a fixed dimension A and the remainder of said panels having a width equal to a fixed dimension B, B being less than A, said panels having a plurality of vertically spaced holes along their vertical edge surfaces; a plurality of hinge plates each including a plate portion attached to a vertical edge surface of one of the panels, a screw fastener fixing the plate portion to one said hole, and a vertical loop projecting from the plate portion; a plurality of connector links connecting adjacent loop portions of respective hinge plates to hingeably interconnect the planar panels at their lateral edges so that each panel is pivotable about a vertical axis through at least 180° relative to each adjacent panel, said connected panels forming a series of rectangular alcoves; a plurality of support elements each having a first portion overlying an edge surface of one of the panels, a screw fastener fixing said first portion to one said hole, and a second portion projecting outwardly from the face of the panel and including an upwardly directed projection; and a plurality of rectangular shelves having dimensions generally equal to the inside dimensions of said alcoves for mounting therein, said shelves each including underlying recesses proximate their corners and engaged by the upwardly directed projections so that the shelves provide structural rigidity to the panels and prevent collapse of the system.