Variable planform shelving system
AssigneeTechni AS
InventorsGeorge Fanourgiakis, Lawrence J. Brucia
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Variable planform shelving systems include a variable support platform and a support surface assembly that is supported by the variable support platform. The variable support platform includes frames that can be repositioned relative to each other to vary the planform of the variable support platform. The support surface assembly provides a support surface for supported items. The support surface assembly is flexible and/or comprised of a plurality of linked panels so that the support surface provided varies in response to variation in the planform of the variable support platform.
Claims13
A reconfigurable shelving unit, comprising:
- a support frame assembly comprising a plurality of support frames that are configured for re-arranging relative to one another between different configurations so as to change a footprint of the support frame assembly by at least one of (a) changing a curvature of the support frame assembly or (b) changing the curvature of the support frame assembly and a length of the support frame assembly;
- and
- a support surface assembly supported by the support frame assembly and forming a reconfigurable support surface for items supported by the support frame assembly, the support surface assembly comprising a plurality of interconnected flexible panels so as to be reconfigurable to match at least a portion of a shape of the support frame assembly responsive to a changing of the footprint of the support surface assembly, the support surface assembly further comprising a front plate assembly affixed to a front surface of the support surface assembly, the front plate assembly comprising a step down portion disposed approximately 45 degrees relative to a top of the reconfigurable support surface and a vertical portion disposed approximately 90 degrees relative to the top of the reconfigurable support surface;
- wherein the plurality of interconnected flexible panels have longitudinal and depth dimensions that define faces oriented to extend in the vertical direction, the vertical direction orientation of the faces does not change with a reconfiguration of the support surface assembly variable in size, shape, and curvature in a width-wise direction perpendicular to the vertical direction and traverse a lengthwise direction, and each one of the plurality of interconnected flexible panels comprises flexible and resilient strips.
A support surface assembly forming a reconfigurable support surface upon which to support items in a vertical direction from underneath, the support surface assembly comprising:
- a plurality of panels having longitudinal and depth dimensions that define faces oriented to extend in the vertical direction, the faces being intermittently bonded to each other so that the panels assume a sinusoidal pattern, the panels being flexible so that portions of the panels in between bonded areas are flexible to render the support surface assembly (a) expandable in a lengthwise direction perpendicular to the vertical direction of the plurality of flexible panels without a substantial contraction in the support surface assembly in a width-wise direction transverse to the lengthwise direction and without a change in the vertical direction orientation of the faces and (b) variable in size, shape, and width-wise curvature of the support surface assembly;
- and
- a front plate assembly affixed to a front surface of the support surface assembly, the front plate assembly comprising a step down portion disposed approximately 45 degrees relative to a top of the reconfigurable support surface and a vertical portion disposed approximately 90 degrees relative to the top of the reconfigurable support surface;
- wherein the vertical direction orientation of the faces does not change with a reconfiguration of the support surface assembly, and each one of the plurality of interconnected flexible panels comprises flexible and resilient strips.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.