US5415302A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular shelving system with a quick-change shelf feature
Assignee: Metro Industries Inc
•
Filing: 1993-07-22
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Granted: 1995-05-16
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Expires: 2013-07-22
Abstract
Abstract A shelving system includes a horizontal polygonal base shelf assembly and a substantially identical horizontal top shelf assembly, a plurality of vertical support posts, and one or more intermediate shelf assemblies positioned between the top shelf assembly and the bottom shelf assembly. Each intermediate shelf assembly is supported by hanger brackets which are removably secured to the support posts. Accordingly, each intermediate shelf assembly can be quickly installed and removed without the necessity of disassembling the other components of the shelving system. Optionally, an overlay may be placed on one or more of the shelf assemblies. The overlay is removably secured at its perimeter to the shelf assemblies by means of a snap-on trim panel. The overlay and trim panel may have different selected textures, patterns, and colors to provide an inexpensive, easily changeable informational and decorative display.
Inventors
- 👤 Bradley J. Carlson
- 👤 David A. Reppert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:43
CPC Classifications
A; A47; A47B; A47B55/00; A47B55/02; A47B57/00; A47B57/06; A47B57/26; A47B57/265; A47B57/30; A47B57/40; A47B57/404; A47B96/00; A47B96/02; A47B96/024; A47B31/00; A47B2031/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 38
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A shelving system, comprising: a polygonal first shelf assembly; a polygonal second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one polygonal intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; wherein each said intermediate shelf assembly includes a plurality of perimeter structures substantially to define a perimeter of said intermediate shelf assembly and wherein in a region of an intersection of adjacent perimeter structures said intermediate shelf assembly is truncated to define a mounting section for engagement with one hanger bracket of said one group of hanger brackets.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
A shelving system, comprising: a polygonal first shelf assembly; a polygonal second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one polygonal intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; wherein each said intermediate shelf assembly includes a plurality of perimeter structures substantially to define a perimeter of said intermediate shelf assembly and wherein in a region of an intersection of adjacent perimeter structures said intermediate shelf assembly is truncated to define a mounting section for engagement with one hanger bracket of said one group of hanger brackets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shelving system according to claim 1, wherein each of said shelf assemblies is substantially rectangular.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The shelving system according to claim 1, wherein each of said perimeter structures is a truss comprising an upper rib and a lower rib.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
96 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; wherein said support posts are substantially hollow, and have a plurality of substantially evenly-spaced openings therein for receiving said hanger brackets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
96 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; wherein said support posts are substantially hollow, and have a plurality of substantially evenly-spaced openings therein for receiving said hanger brackets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shelving system according to claim 4, wherein said openings are substantially in the form of rectangular slots.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The shelving system according to claim 5, wherein selected rectangular slots have a distinguishing portion so as to be visually distinguishable from the remainder of said slots.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
The shelving system according to claim 4, wherein each of said hanger brackets comprises a first leg portion adapted to be removably inserted in a first opening and a second leg portion adapted to be removably inserted in a second opening adjacent said first opening.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shelving system according to claim 7, wherein each of said hanger brackets further comprises an intermediate shelf assembly receiving notch.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The shelving system according to claim 4, wherein said support posts are positioned relative to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly such that said openings are oriented to face in a direction toward an interior of said shelving system.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The shelving system according to claim 1, wherein said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly are like-shaped polygons.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The shelving system according to claim 10, wherein said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly are both substantially rectangular.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
146 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; wherein each of said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly comprises a plurality of perimeter structures and a plurality of support post receiving collars, at least one collar being located in at least one corner of said polygonal first shelf assembly and at least one collar being located in at least one corner of said polygonal second shelf assembly, said plurality of perimeter structures being secured to said collars.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
146 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; wherein each of said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly comprises a plurality of perimeter structures and a plurality of support post receiving collars, at least one collar being located in at least one corner of said polygonal first shelf assembly and at least one collar being located in at least one corner of said polygonal second shelf assembly, said plurality of perimeter structures being secured to said collars.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The shelving system according to claim 12, wherein each of said plurality of perimeter structures is a truss comprising an upper rib and a lower rib.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
88 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; and at least one shelf overlay supported by each said intermediate shelf assembly.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
88 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; and at least one shelf overlay supported by each said intermediate shelf assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 14, wherein said shelf overlay has a textured surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 14, wherein said shelf overlay has a patterned surface.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The shelving system according to claim 2, further comprising an elongated trim panel removably secured to a selected one of said plurality of perimeter structures.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
57 words
The shelving system according to claim 17, wherein said trim panel comprises partially-circular portions formed at each long edge thereof and wherein a first partially-circular portion extends partially around and engages an upper edge of said selected perimeter structure, and a second partially-circular portion extends partially around and engages a lower edge of said selected perimeter structure.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shelving system according to claim 17, wherein said trim panel is extruded from an elastically deformable material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shelving system according to claim 19, wherein said elastically deformable material is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 17, wherein said trim panel has a textured surface.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 17, wherein said trim panel has a patterned surface.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
97 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one polygonal intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; and at least one shelf overlay supported by at least one of said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
97 words
A shelving system, comprising: a first shelf assembly; a second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed between and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly; a plurality of bayonet-type hanger brackets removably secured to said support posts, said hanger brackets being disposed in at least one group having a common elevation; and at least one polygonal intermediate shelf assembly being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets; and at least one shelf overlay supported by at least one of said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 23, wherein said shelf overlay has a textured surface.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 23, wherein said shelf overlay has a patterned surface.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
78 words
The shelving system according to claim 23, wherein said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly are like polygons and comprise at least three trusses substantially to define a perimeter of each of said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly, wherein each of said trusses comprises an upper rib and a lower rib, and further comprising at least one trim panel adapted to be removably secured to a selected one of said plurality of trusses.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
55 words
The shelving system according to claim 26, wherein said trim panel comprises partially-circular portions formed at each long edge thereof and wherein a first partially-circular portion extends partially around and engages an upper rib of said selected truss, and a second partially-circular portion extends partially around and engages a lower rib of said selected truss.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The shelving system according to claim 27, wherein said trim panel is extruded from an elastically deformable material.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
16 words
The shelving system according to claim 27, wherein said elastically deformable material is a thermoplastic material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 26, wherein said trim panel has a textured surface.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
15 words
The shelving system according to claim 26, wherein said trim panel has a patterned surface.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
180 words
A shelving assembly, comprising: a substantially rectangular first shelf assembly; a substantially rectangular second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed from and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly, wherein said support posts have a plurality of slots arranged at predetermined intervals, said slots being oriented toward an interior space of said shelving system; a plurality of hanger brackets arranged in at least one group at a common elevation, wherein each said hanger bracket is formed to be removably inserted in a bayonet-like manner in a vertically-adjacent pair of said slots of said support posts; and at least one intermediate shelf being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets, wherein each said intermediate shelf assembly is substantially rectangular and comprises a plurality of perimeter structures substantially to define a perimeter of said intermediate shelf assembly and wherein in a region of an intersection of adjacent perimeter structures said intermediate shelf assembly is truncated to define a mounting section for engagement with one hanger bracket of said one group of hanger brackets.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
180 words
A shelving assembly, comprising: a substantially rectangular first shelf assembly; a substantially rectangular second shelf assembly; a plurality of support posts disposed from and removably secured to said first shelf assembly and said second shelf assembly, wherein said support posts have a plurality of slots arranged at predetermined intervals, said slots being oriented toward an interior space of said shelving system; a plurality of hanger brackets arranged in at least one group at a common elevation, wherein each said hanger bracket is formed to be removably inserted in a bayonet-like manner in a vertically-adjacent pair of said slots of said support posts; and at least one intermediate shelf being removably supported by said one group of hanger brackets, wherein each said intermediate shelf assembly is substantially rectangular and comprises a plurality of perimeter structures substantially to define a perimeter of said intermediate shelf assembly and wherein in a region of an intersection of adjacent perimeter structures said intermediate shelf assembly is truncated to define a mounting section for engagement with one hanger bracket of said one group of hanger brackets.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-05-15 | 1998-11-14 | 1999-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-05-15 | 2002-11-14 | 2003-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-05-15 | 2006-11-14 | 2007-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |