Shelving system

Abstract

A shelving system including first and second supports, an adapter extending into the first and second supports, and first and second spacers interposing the first and second supports and having first and second apertures, respectively, through which the adapter extends. A shelf interposes the first and second spacers and has a third aperture through which the adapter extends.

1 . A shelving system, comprising: 
 first and second supports;    an adapter extending into each of the first and second supports;    first and second spacers interposing the first and second supports and having first and second apertures, respectively, through which the adapter extends; and    a shelf interposing the first and second spacers and having a third aperture through which the adapter extends.    
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the adapter includes first and second elongated portions coupled by a cross-member, wherein first ends of the first and second elongated portions extending into the first support and second ends of the first and second elongated portions extend into the second support.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the first spacer further comprises a fourth aperture;    the second spacer further comprises a fifth aperture;    the shelf further comprises a sixth aperture; and    the adapter includes: 
 a first portion extending through the first aperture and into the first support;  
 a second portion extending through the fourth aperture and into the first support;  
 a third portion extending through the second and third apertures and into the second support; and  
 a fourth portion extending through the fifth and sixth apertures and into the second support.  
   
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the first and second spacers includes a protrusion extending at least partially into the third aperture.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second spacers comprise a pliable material.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second spacers comprise rubber.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second spacers comprise a vibration dampening material.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shelf is a glass shelf.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the shelf comprises a glass portion having the third aperture.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1  wherein a portion of the shelf interposes at least portions of the first and second spacers.  
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one locking feature securing the adapter to at least one of the first and second supports.  
   
   
       12 . A shelving system, comprising: 
 a plurality of supports;    a plurality of shelves each interposing ones of the plurality of supports;    a plurality of adapters each extending through one of the plurality of shelves and into ones of the plurality of supports proximate the one of the plurality of shelves; and    a plurality of spacers each interposing one of the plurality of shelves and one of the plurality of supports proximate the one of the plurality of shelves, such that each of the plurality of shelves is physically isolated from each proximate one of the plurality of supports by at least one of the plurality of spacers.    
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the plurality of adapters includes first and second elongated portions coupled by a cross-member, wherein first ends of the first and second elongated portions extending into a first one of the plurality of supports and second ends of the first and second elongated portions extend into a second one of the plurality of supports.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the plurality of spacers includes a protrusion extending at least partially into an aperture in an adjacent one of the plurality of shelves.  
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the plurality of spacers comprises a pliable material.  
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the plurality of spacers comprises rubber.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the plurality of spacers comprises a vibration dampening material.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the plurality of shelves is a glass shelf.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the plurality of shelves comprises a glass portion through which a corresponding one of the plurality of adapters extends.  
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 12  wherein a portion of at least one of the plurality of shelves interposes at least portions of proximate ones of the plurality of spacers.  
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of locking features each securing one of the plurality of adapters to one of the plurality of supports.  
   
   
       22 . A shelving system kit, comprising: 
 an adapter having first and second protrusions;    a first support configured to receive the first adapter protrusion;    a second support configured to receive the second adapter protrusion;    a spacer configured to receive one of the first and second adapter protrusions; and    a shelf configured to receive one of the first and second adapter protrusions.    
   
   
       23 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the adapter is one of a plurality of substantial similar adapters included in the kit and the spacer is one of a plurality of substantially similar spacers included in the kit.  
   
   
       24 . The kit of  claim 23  wherein the shelf is one of a plurality of substantially similar shelves included in the kit.  
   
   
       25 . The kit of  claim 24  wherein the first support is one of a plurality of substantially similar first supports included in the kit and the second support is one of a plurality of substantially similar second supports included in the kit.  
   
   
       26 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein: 
 the spacer is a first spacer and is configured to receive the first adapter protrusion;    the first protrusion has first cross-sectional dimensions;    the first support and the spacer include first apertures having first aperture dimensions that are substantially similar to the first cross-sectional dimensions;    the second protrusion has second cross-sectional dimensions;    the kit further comprises a second spacer; and    the second support and the second spacer include second apertures having second aperture dimensions that are substantially similar to the second cross-sectional dimensions.    
   
   
       27 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the adapter includes first and second elongated portions coupled by a cross-member, wherein first ends of the first and second elongated portions are configured to be received by the first support and second ends of the first and second elongated portions are configured to be received by the second support.  
   
   
       28 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the spacer includes a substantially annulus-shaped spacer protrusion having an outer diameter that is less than an aperture diameter of an aperture in the shelf, wherein an inner diameter of the spacer protrusion is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of one of the first and second adapter protrusions.  
   
   
       29 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the spacer comprises a pliable material.  
   
   
       30 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the spacer comprises rubber.  
   
   
       31 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the spacer comprises a vibration dampening material.  
   
   
       32 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the shelf is a glass shelf.  
   
   
       33 . The kit of  claim 22  wherein the shelf comprises a glass portion having an aperture, wherein a diameter of the aperture is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of the first and second of adapter protrusions.  
   
   
       34 . The kit of  claim 22  further comprising a locking feature configured to secure one of the first and second adapter protrusions to one of the first and second supports.  
   
   
       35 . A furniture piece, comprising: 
 first and second supports having proximate first ends and distal second ends, the second ends of each of the first and second supports including first recesses;    third and fourth supports having third ends proximate the second ends of the first and second supports, respectively, the third ends of each of the third and fourth supports including second recesses;    first and second adapters each having a first adapter protrusion extending into one of the first recesses and a second adapter protrusion extending into one of the second recesses;    a shelf interposing the first support and the third support and interposing the second support and the fourth support;    a first spacer interposing the shelf and the first support;    a second spacer interposing the shelf and the second support;    a third spacer interposing the shelf and the third support; and    a fourth spacer interposing the shelf and the fourth support.    
   
   
       36 . The furniture piece of  claim 35  wherein each of the first, second, third, and fourth spacers includes a spacer protrusion extending at least partially into a corresponding aperture in the shelf.  
   
   
       37 . The furniture piece of  claim 35  further comprising a central support at least indirectly coupled to the first ends of the first and second supports.  
   
   
       38 . The furniture piece of  claim 35  further comprising a television coupled at least indirectly to at least one of the first, second, third, and fourth supports.