Netting assembly for use with shelving assemblies

Abstract

A netting assembly includes a netting panel sized to span at least a majority of a shelving assembly's storage space. An adjusting member is capable of being positioned in three configurations and is operatively connected to the netting panel proximate at least two spaced apart portions of the adjusting member. The adjusting member is operatively connected to the netting panel such that gaps are created between the adjusting member and the netting panel proximate between the at least two spaced apart portions when the adjusting member is in the first and second configurations. The netting panel has a first size when the adjusting member is in the first configuration and is expandable to a second size when the adjusting member is in the third configuration. The netting panel is adjustable in size between the first size and the second size, and the adjusting member tensions the netting panel.

1 . A netting assembly for use with a shelving assembly, the shelving assembly having vertical support posts and horizontal support posts defining at least one storage space in which items are stored, the storage space having a shelf length, comprising:
 a netting panel sized to span at least a majority of the shelf length;   an adjusting member operatively connected to the netting panel proximate at least two spaced apart portions of the adjusting member, the adjusting member being made of an elasticized material capable of being positioned in a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the first configuration being when the adjusting member is in a released state, the second configuration being when the adjusting member is in a partially extended state, and the third configuration being when the adjusting member is in a fully extended state; and   the adjusting member being operatively connected to the netting panel such that gaps are created between the adjusting member and the netting panel proximate between the at least two spaced apart portions when the adjusting member is in the first and second configurations, the netting panel having a first size when the adjusting member is in the first configuration and being expandable to a second size when the adjusting member is in the third configuration, wherein the netting panel is adjustable in size between the first size and the second size and the adjusting member tensions the netting panel.   
   
   
       2 . The netting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the netting panel is sized to span at least a majority of the storage space. 
   
   
       3 . The netting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the netting panel includes a border proximate a perimeter of the netting panel, the adjusting member being operatively connected to the border. 
   
   
       4 . The netting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcement extending from a first side of the netting panel to an opposing side of the netting panel, the adjusting member being operatively connected to the reinforcement. 
   
   
       5 . The netting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member is positioned to horizontally adjust the netting panel's size. 
   
   
       6 . The netting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member is positioned to vertically adjust the netting panel's size. 
   
   
       7 . The netting assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the adjusting member includes a first adjusting member and a second adjusting member, and the first adjusting member being positioned to horizontally adjust the netting panel's size and the second adjusting member being positioned to vertically adjust the netting panel's size. 
   
   
       8 . The netting assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a support assembly configured and arranged to be operatively connected to the shelving assembly proximate the storage space;   the netting panel including a top, a bottom, a left side, and a right side;   connectors interconnecting the top, the bottom, the left side, and the right side of the netting panel and the support assembly;   the netting panel having the first size prior to interconnecting the top, the bottom, the left side, and the right side and the support assembly, the adjusting member extending from the first configuration to the second configuration and the netting panel expanding from the first size to the second size as the top, the bottom, the left side, and the right side are connected to the support assembly.   
   
   
       9 . A storage assembly, comprising:
 a shelving assembly including vertical support posts and horizontal support posts defining at least one storage space in which items are stored;   a netting panel sized to span at least a majority of the storage space;   connectors interconnecting the netting panel and the shelving assembly;   an adjusting member operatively connected to the netting panel proximate at least two spaced apart portions of the adjusting member, the adjusting member being made of an elasticized material capable of being positioned in a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the first configuration being when the adjusting member is in a released state, the second configuration being when the adjusting member is in a partially extended state, and the third configuration being when the adjusting member is in a fully extended state; and   the adjusting member being operatively connected to the netting panel such that gaps are created between the adjusting member and the netting panel proximate between the at least two spaced apart portions when the adjusting member is in the first and second configurations, the netting panel having a first size when the adjusting member is in the first configuration and being expandable to a second size when the adjusting member is in the second configuration and to a third size when the adjusting member is in the third configuration, wherein the netting panel expands to at least the second size and the adjusting member tensions the netting panel when the netting panel is connected to the shelving assembly.   
   
   
       10 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the netting panel includes a border proximate a perimeter of the netting panel, the adjusting member being operatively connected to the border. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising a reinforcement extending from a first side of the netting panel to an opposing side of the netting panel, the adjusting member being operatively connected to the reinforcement. 
   
   
       12 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the adjusting member is positioned to horizontally adjust the netting panel's size. 
   
   
       13 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the adjusting member is positioned to vertically adjust the netting panel's size. 
   
   
       14 . The assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the adjusting member includes a first adjusting member and a second adjusting member, and the first adjusting member being positioned to horizontally adjust the netting panel's size and the second adjusting member being positioned to vertically adjust the netting panel's size. 
   
   
       15 . The assembly of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a cable operatively connected to the vertical support posts proximate an upper portion of the storage space;   the netting panel including a top, a bottom, a first side, and a second side;   the connectors including elongate connecting members and a plurality of fasteners;   the elongate connecting members being operatively connected to the first and second sides of the netting panel for releasably connecting the netting panel to the vertical support posts; and   the plurality of fasteners interconnecting at least the top of the netting panel and the cable, the netting panel being slidable along the cable.   
   
   
       16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of fasteners further interconnect the elongate connecting members and the cable. 
   
   
       17 . The assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a second cable operatively connected to the vertical support posts proximate a lower portion of the storage space, wherein the plurality of fasteners further interconnect the bottom of the netting panel and the second cable, the netting panel being slidable along the cable and the second cable. 
   
   
       18 . The assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the plurality of fasteners further operatively connect the elongate connecting members to the cable and the second cable. 
   
   
       19 . A method of connecting a netting panel to a shelving assembly, the shelving assembly including vertical support posts and horizontal support posts defining at least one storage space in which items are stored, the netting panel including a top, a bottom, a first side, a second side, and at least one adjusting member operatively connected to the netting panel proximate at least two spaced apart portions of the adjusting member, the adjusting member being made of an elasticized material capable of being positioned in a first configuration, a second configuration, and a third configuration, the first configuration being when the adjusting member is in a released state, the second configuration being when the adjusting member is in a partially extended state, and the third configuration being when the adjusting member is in a fully extended state, the adjusting member being operatively connected to the netting panel such that gaps are created between the adjusting member and the netting panel proximate between the at least two spaced apart portions when the adjusting member is in the first and second configurations, the netting panel having a first size when the adjusting member is in the first configuration and being expandable to a second size when the adjusting member is in the third configuration, wherein the netting panel is adjustable in size between the first size and the second size and the adjusting member tensions the netting panel, comprising:
 connecting a cable to at least two of the vertical support posts proximate a top portion of the at least one storage space;   connecting a first elongate connecting member to the first side of the netting panel and connecting a second elongate connecting member to the second side of the netting panel;   connecting the top of the netting panel to the cable, the netting panel being slidable along the cable between the at least two of the vertical support posts;   connecting the first elongate connecting member to one of the vertical support posts;   connecting the second elongate connecting member to another of the vertical support posts, wherein the netting panel adjusts in size from the first size to the second size and the adjusting member tensions the netting panel.   
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the top of the netting panel is connected to the cable by connecting the first elongate connecting member and the second elongate connecting member to the cable using fasteners. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the top of the netting panel is connected to the cable using a plurality of fasteners. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising connecting a second cable to the at least two of the vertical support posts proximate a bottom portion of the at least one storage space and connecting the bottom of the netting panel to the second cable, the netting panel being slidable along the cable and the second cable between the at least two of the vertical support posts.