Modular shelving and method for its use

Abstract

The present invention is comprised of modular shelving, which is further comprised of modules and horizontal planks or shelves. Each module is generally comprised of an exterior shell that may be in the form of a wide variety of different shapes. Each module is preferably comprised of a molded polymer exterior shell. The interior volume of the module may be filled with a semi-rigid or rigid foam material or other structural members or materials to provide additional support for the horizontal planks. Each module also has at least one channel that passes through the module. Each channel is of a size and shape adapted to receive and hold one of the horizontal planks. It is also possible to stack the modules of the modular shelving upon one another. The present invention also includes a method of assembling the modular shelving.

1 . A module for use in modular shelving, wherein: 
 (a) the module is comprised of an exterior shell having an ornamental or functional shape, wherein the exterior shell is further comprised of a bottom surface and at least a portion of the bottom surface rests on a support surface;    (b) the exterior shell is comprised of a rigid material;    (c) the module has at least one channel positioned therein, wherein the at least one channel is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold at least one horizontal plank; and    (d) the at least one horizontal plank is supported by the module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the at least one horizontal plank is positioned within the at least one channel.    
   
   
       2 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel is an interior channel that is approximately rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       3 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one channel is an interior channel that is approximately rectangular in shape with a slightly concave upper surface.  
   
   
       4 . The module of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 (a) the module is further comprised of a top surface approximately opposite the bottom surface; and    (b) the module has a top channel positioned in the top surface thereof, wherein: 
 (i) the top channel is approximately rectangular in shape and is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold a top horizontal plank; and  
 (ii) the top horizontal plank is supported by the module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the top horizontal plank is positioned within the top channel.  
   
   
   
       5 . The module of  claim 4 , wherein the top horizontal plank and the at least one horizontal plank each extend from the module in a different direction while the top horizontal plank is positioned in the top channel and the at least one horizontal plank is positioned in the at least one interior channel.  
   
   
       6 . The module of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid material comprising the exterior shell is comprised of a rigid polymer material and the exterior shell has a thickness in the range from ⅛ inches to 3/16 inches.  
   
   
       7 . The module of  claim 1 , further comprising internal support means, wherein the internal support means provides additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       8 . The module of  claim 7 , wherein the internal support means are comprised of at least one structural member extending: 
 (a) from at least one point on an interior surface of the exterior shell to at least one other point on the interior surface of the exterior shell of the module;    (b) from at least one point on the interior surface of the exterior shell to at least one point on a surface of the at least one channel of the module; or    (c) from at least one point on the surface of the at least one channel of the module to at least one other point on the surface of an at least one channel of the module.    
   
   
       9 . The module of  claim 7 , wherein the module has an interior volume bounded by the exterior shell and the internal support means is comprised of a rigid foam material positioned within the interior volume of the module.  
   
   
       10 . The module of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one support bracket, wherein the at least one support bracket is positioned in the at least one channel, the at least one support bracket extends outward from the exterior shell along the longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontal plank, and the at least one support bracket provides additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       11 . A module for use in modular shelving, the module comprising: 
 (a) an exterior shell comprised of a flexible or semi-rigid material and having an ornamental or functional shape, wherein the exterior shell is further comprised of a bottom surface and at least a portion of the bottom surface rests on a support surface; and    (b) a rigid foam material positioned within the interior volume bounded by the exterior shell, wherein; 
 (i) the module has at least one channel positioned therein, wherein the at least one channel is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold at least one horizontal plank in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface; and  
 (ii) the at least one horizontal plank is supported by the module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the at least one horizontal plank is positioned within the at least one channel.  
   
   
   
       12 . The module of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one channel is an interior channel that is approximately rectangular in shape.  
   
   
       13 . The module of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one channel is an interior channel that is approximately rectangular in shape with a slightly concave upper surface.  
   
   
       14 . The module of  claim 11 , wherein: 
 (a) the module is further comprised of a top surface approximately opposite the bottom surface; and    (b) the module has a top channel positioned in the top surface thereof, wherein: 
 (i) the top channel is approximately rectangular in shape and is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold a top horizontal plank; and  
 (ii) the top horizontal plank is supported by the module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the top horizontal plank is positioned within the top channel.  
   
   
   
       15 . The module of  claim 14 , wherein the top horizontal plank and the at least one horizontal plank each extend from the module in a different direction while the top horizontal plank is positioned in the top channel and the at least one horizontal plank is positioned in the at least one interior channel.  
   
   
       16 . The module of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible or semi-rigid material comprising the exterior shell is comprised of a flexible or semi-rigid material polymer material and the exterior shell has a thickness in the range from 1/16 inches to 3/16 inches.  
   
   
       17 . The module of  claim 16 , wherein the polymer material is molded polyethylene.  
   
   
       18 . The module of  claim 11 , further comprising internal support means, wherein the internal support means provides additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       19 . The module of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one support bracket, wherein the at least one support bracket is positioned within the at least one channel, the at least one support bracket extends outward from the exterior shell along the longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontal plank, and the at least one support bracket provides additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       20 . A modular shelving system comprised of: 
 (a) at least one first module, comprising: 
 (i) a flexible or semi-rigid exterior shell having an ornamental or functional shape and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface rests on a support surface; and  
 (ii) a rigid foam material positioned within the interior volume bounded by the exterior shell;  
   (b) at least one second module comprised of an exterior shell having an ornamental or functional shape and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface rests on a support surface; and    (c) at least one horizontal plank, wherein: 
 (i) the at least one first module and the at least one second module each have at least one channel having a rectangular bottom portion positioned therein, wherein the at least one channel is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold a portion of the at least one horizontal plank; and  
 (ii) the at least one horizontal plank is supported by the at least one first module and the at least one second module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the at least one horizontal plank is positioned within the at least one channel of the at least one first module and the at least one channel of the at least one second module.  
   
   
   
       21 . The modular shelving system of  claim 20 , wherein the exterior shell of the at least one second module is comprised of a rigid material.  
   
   
       22 . The modular shelving system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one second module further comprises internal support means to provide additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       23 . The modular shelving system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one channel in the at least one first module is an interior channel.  
   
   
       24 . The modular shelving system of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 (a) the at least one first module is further comprised of a top surface approximately opposite the bottom surface; and    (b) the at least one first module has a top channel positioned in the top surface thereof, wherein: 
 (i) the top channel is approximately rectangular in shape and is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold a top horizontal plank;  
 (ii) a portion of the top horizontal plank is positioned within one of the at least one channels of the at least one second module; and  
 (iii) the top horizontal plank is supported by the at least one first module and the at least one second module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the top horizontal plank is positioned within the top channel of the at least one first module and the at least one channel of the at least one second module.  
   
   
   
       25 . The modular shelving system of  claim 24 , wherein the top horizontal plank and the at least one horizontal plank each extend from the at least one first module in a different direction while the top horizontal plank is positioned in the top channel of the at least one first module and the at least one horizontal plank is positioned in the at least one interior channel of the at least one first module.  
   
   
       26 . The modular shelving system of  claim 20 , wherein the material comprising the exterior shell of the at least one first module is comprised of a flexible or semi-rigid polymer material and the exterior shell of the at least one first module has a thickness in the range from 1/16 inches to 3/16 inches.  
   
   
       27 . The modular shelving system of  claim 20 , wherein the at least one first module further comprises at least one support bracket, wherein the at least one support bracket is positioned in the at least one channel of the at least one first module, the at least one support bracket extends outward from the exterior shell of the at least one first module along the longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontal plank, and the at least one support bracket provides additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       28 . The modular shelving system of  claim 20 , further comprising at least one third module, wherein: 
 (a) the at least one first module is further comprised of a top surface approximately opposite the bottom surface; and    (b) the at least one third module is comprised of an exterior shell having an ornamental or functional shape and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the at least one third module rests on a portion of the top surface of the at least one first module;    (c) the at least one third module has at least one channel having a rectangular bottom portion positioned therein, wherein the at least one channel is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold a portion of at least one second level horizontal plank; and    (d) the at least one second level horizontal plank is supported by the at least one third module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the at least one second level horizontal plank is positioned within the at least one channel of the at least one third module.    
   
   
       29 . A modular shelving system comprised of: 
 (a) at least one first module comprising a rigid exterior shell having an ornamental or functional shape and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface rests on a support surface;    (b) at least one second module comprised of an exterior shell having an ornamental or functional shape and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface rests on a support surface; and    (c) at least one horizontal plank, wherein: 
 (i) the at least one first module and the at least one second module each have at least one channel having a rectangular bottom portion positioned therein, wherein the at least one channel is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold a portion of the at least one horizontal plank; and  
 (ii) the at least one horizontal plank is supported by the at least one first module and the at least one second module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the at least one horizontal plank is positioned within the at least one channel of the at least one first module and the at least one channel of the at least one second module.  
   
   
   
       30 . The modular shelving system of  claim 29 , wherein the exterior shell of the at least one second module is comprised of a flexible or semi-flexible material and a rigid foam material is positioned within the interior volume bounded by the exterior shell of the at least one second module.  
   
   
       31 . The modular shelving system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one first module further comprises internal support means to provides additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       32 . The modular shelving system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one channel in the at least one first module is an interior channel.  
   
   
       33 . The modular shelving system of  claim 32 , wherein: 
 (a) the at least one first module is further comprised of a top surface approximately opposite the bottom surface; and    (b) the at least one first module has a top channel positioned in the top surface thereof, wherein: 
 (i) the top channel is approximately rectangular in shape and is of a size and orientation adapted to receive a top horizontal plank;  
 (ii) a portion of the top horizontal plank is positioned within one of the at least one channels of the at least one second module; and  
 (iii) the top horizontal plank is supported by the at least one first module and the at least one second module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the top horizontal plank is positioned within the top channel of the at least one first module and the at least one channel of the at least one second module.  
   
   
   
       34 . The modular shelving system of  claim 33 , wherein the top horizontal plank and the at least one horizontal plank each extend from the at least one first module in a different direction while the top horizontal plank is positioned in the top channel of the at least one first module and the at least one horizontal plank is positioned in the at least one interior channel of the at least one first module.  
   
   
       35 . The modular shelving system of  claim 29 , wherein the rigid material comprising the exterior shell of the at least one first module is comprised of a rigid polymer material and the exterior shell of the at least one first module has a thickness in the range from 1/16 inches to 3/16 inches.  
   
   
       36 . The modular shelving system of  claim 29 , wherein the at least one first module further comprises at least one support bracket, wherein the at least one support bracket is positioned in the at least one channel of the at least one first module, the at least one support bracket extends outward from the exterior shell of the at least one first module along the longitudinal axis of the at least one horizontal plank, and the at least one support bracket provides additional support for the at least one horizontal plank.  
   
   
       37 . The modular shelving system of  claim 29 , further comprising at least one third module, wherein: 
 (a) the at least one first module is further comprised of a top surface approximately opposite the bottom surface; and    (b) the at least one third module is comprised of an exterior shell having an ornamental or functional shape and a bottom surface, wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the at least one third module rests on a portion of the top surface of the at least one first module;    (c) the at least one third module has at least one channel having a rectangular bottom portion positioned therein, wherein the at least one channel is of a size and orientation adapted to receive and hold a portion of at least one second level horizontal plank; and    (d) the at least one second level horizontal plank is supported by the at least one third module in an orientation approximately horizontal to the support surface while the at least one second level horizontal plank is positioned within the at least one channel of the at least one third module.