Free standing stacking shelf system

#The present invention relates to shelving systems and more particularly to a free standing stacking shelf system.

#Shelving systems are known that include a plurality of shelves, each shelf being formed from a plurality of parallel bars which are fixedly coupled together at spaced intervals from each other by longitudinally extending bars. When these shelving systems are assembled, each of the shelves are mounted to a wall at vertically spaced intervals and/or are fixedly coupled at vertically spaced intervals to a vertical pole. These shelving systems have the disadvantage that they are not free standing. Furthermore, such shelving systems may not be readily disassembled for moving the same and/or readily assembled so as to provide a different number of shelves in accordance with a consumer's varying needs.

#Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide means for stacking shelves of the aforementioned type so that different numbers of shelves may be provided in the shelving system, so that the shelving system is free standing, and so that the shelving system may be quickly and easily disassembled and reassembled.

#FIG. 1 is an exploded plan view of a free standing stacking shelf system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

#FIG. 2 is a side plan view of a stacking shelf of the embodiment FIG. 1;

#FIG. 3 is a front plan view partly broken away of a stacking shelf of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

#Referring to FIG. 1, one manner in which a first embodiment of the free standing stacking shelf system of the present invention may be assembled is shown. As can be seen, the shelving system includes at least two shelf members 10 each of which are removably coupled to at least two stacking elements 12. The shelf members 10 of this embodiment are of the type including a number of crosswise bar members 14 which are coupled together in parallel spaced relation by longitudinally extending bar members 16. As can be further seen in FIG. 1, the bar members 14 forming the shelf member 10 are disposed so as to have downwardly extending ends 18 and horizontal portions 20 so that the shelf member 10 has a generally inverted U-shape, the longitudinal bar members 16 being disposed at least at the corners and ends of the U-shaped shelf 10.

#Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of a stacking element formed in accordance with the present invention is shown. This stacking element 12 includes first and second arm members 22 and 24, respectively and a base member 26 coupled to and disposed between the first and second arm members 22 and 24. Each stacking element 12 further includes means for removably coupling the same to a shelf 10. In the illustrated embodiment the means for removably coupling include a J-shaped hook element 28 provided on the end of the first arm 22 and an L-shaped hook element 30 provided On the end of the second arm member 24. As can be further seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, when a stacking element 12 is coupled to a shelf member 10, hook element 28 and hook element 30 each engage a respective longitudinal bar 16 provided at a corner of the shelf member 10. Therefore, it is to be understood that any shaped hooking element which can firmly engage a longitudinally extending bar member 16 may be provided to removably couple a stacking element 12 to a shelf member 10.

#Each of the stacking elements 12 is further provided with means for engaging a next adjacent lower shelf. In the illustrated embodiment, the means for engaging include indented portions 32 provided at the lowermost portion of each of the arm members 22 and 24, adjacent the base member 26. Each of the indents 32 is sized so as to engage and rest upon a horizontal bar member 16 provided at the corners of a next adjacent shelf 10 as can be seen by the dash dot lines in FIG. 1.