Flexible shelving system

A retail shelving unit comprising:

• a base structural unit adapted to provide a substantially rigidly vertically standing and structurally sound six-piece support structure, the base structural unit consisting essentially of:
• a first footing including a substantially elongate body having a first midpoint dividing the first footing into a front portion and a rear portion;
• a second footing including a substantially elongate body having a second midpoint dividing the second footing into a front portion and a rear portion, the first and second footings being oriented substantially parallel and laterally offset from each other;
• a tie beam extending substantially horizontally between a first end and a second end and including a first end bracket at the first end and a second bracket at the second end, the first and second end brackets being releasably secured to the first and second footings proximate the first and second midpoints of the first and second footings, respectively;
• a first standard including a first sliding prong inserted into the first footing proximate the first midpoint, the first footing maintaining the first standard in a substantially vertical position;
• a second standard including a second sliding prong inserted into the second footing proximate the second midpoint, the second footing maintaining the second standard in a substantially vertical position such that the first and second standards extend substantially parallel to and laterally offset from each other;
• and
• a crossbar extending substantially horizontally between the first and second standards, the crossbar having a first end including a first set of prongs and a second end including a second set of prongs, the first and second sets of prongs being releasably secured to the first and second standards, wherein the first and second standards are adapted to provide a plurality of attachment points along a plurality of vertical heights on the first and second standards;
• and
• a plurality of shelving pieces maintained by the base structural unit.

A method of assembling a modular shelving system, the method comprising:

• forming an H-shaped base structure by releasably hooking a tie beam into a mid-section of a first base piece and a mid-section of a second base piece;
• placing the H-shaped base structure on a support surface;
• sliding a first column member into the mid-section of the first base piece by grasping an elongate body of the first column and sliding a lower, narrowed portion of an insert tab extending from an end of the elongate body into a vertical passage formed through the mid-section of first base piece such that the lower, narrowed portion of the insert tab and an upper, wider portion of the insert tab engage the first base piece;
• sliding a second column member into mid-section of the second base piece by grasping an elongate body of the second column and sliding an insert tab at an end of the elongate body of the second column into a vertical passage formed through the mid-section of the second base piece;
• and
• releasably hooking a header member into the first and second columns such that the header member extends substantially horizontally between the first and second columns and substantially perpendicularly to the first and second base pieces, the header member including a first plurality of hook-shaped retainers at a first end of the header member and a second plurality of hook-shaped retainers at a second end of the header member, the first plurality of hook-shaped retainers being releasably secured into a first plurality of retainer slots formed into the first column member and the second plurality of hook-shaped retainers being releasably secured into a second plurality of retainer slots formed into the second column member.

A shelf unit based on a six-piece base unit design, the six-piece base unit design consisting essentially of:

• means for forming an H-shaped base structure by releasably hooking a tie beam into a mid-section of a first base piece and a mid-section of a second base piece;
• means for sliding a first column member into the mid-section of the first base piece such that the first column member extends in a substantially upright manner;
• means for sliding a second column member into the mid-section of the second base piece such that the second column member extends in a substantially upright manner;
• and
• means for releasably hooking a header member into the first and second columns where the header member extends substantially horizontally between the first and second columns and substantially perpendicularly to the first and second base pieces, such that the H-shaped base structure, the first column, the second column, and the header member combine to form a substantially rigid, structurally sound vertical rack.