Modular shelving system

Abstract

A shelving system includes a support structure, one or more shelf units, and a plurality of load pins. The one or more shelf units are configured to couple on the support structure. At least one of the shelf units includes a shelf platform, and two or more brackets coupled to the shelf platform. At least one of the brackets includes a body and defines an opening having a main slot, and two or more stopping position branch slots adjoining the main slot. Each of at least one of plurality of load pins is coupled between one of the two or more brackets and the support structure such that the bracket is moveable to shift the load pin from one stopping position branch slot to another stopping position branch slot to adjust the position of the shelf unit while the shelf unit remains partially supported by the support structure.

1 . A shelving system, comprising:
 a support structure;   one or more shelf units configured to couple on the support structure, at least one of the shelf units comprising:
 a shelf platform; and 
 two or more brackets coupled to the shelf platform, at least one of the brackets comprising a body and defining an opening having:
 a main slot; and 
 two or more stopping position branch slots adjoining the main slot; and 
 
   a plurality of load pins, each of at least one of plurality of load pins being coupled between one of the two or more brackets and the support structure such that the bracket is moveable to shift the load pin from one stopping position branch slot to another stopping position branch slot to adjust the position of the shelf unit while the shelf unit remains partially supported by the support structure.   
     
     
         2 . The shelfing system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the two or more brackets comprise, on at least one side of the shelf unit, a front bracket and a rear bracket, and   the front bracket and the rear bracket each comprises a body and define an opening having a main slot and two or more stopping position branch slots adjoining the main slot.   
     
     
         3 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the two or more brackets of at least one of the one or more shelf units comprises:
 a pair a front brackets, each of the front brackets defining an opening having a main slot and two or more stopping position branch slots adjoining the main slot; and 
 a pair of rear brackets, each of the rear brackets defining an opening having a main slot and two or more stopping position branch slots adjoining the main slot, 
   the support structure comprises:
 a pair a front posts; and 
 a pair of rear posts; 
   each of the pair of front brackets is configured to couple with a corresponding one of the front posts,   each of the pair of rear brackets is configured to couple with a corresponding one of the rear posts,   the plurality of load pins comprises a load pin coupled in at least one of the slots of at least one of the brackets, and   at least one of the brackets is moveable on at least one of the load pins from one branch slot to another branch slot to change a height or inclination of the shelf unit.   
     
     
         4 . The shelving system of  claim 3 , further comprising one or more stabilizer devices coupled between one of the front posts and one of the rear posts on one side of the shelf unit. 
     
     
         5 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the brackets are moveable on the load pins from one branch slot to another branch slot to change an inclination of the shelf unit. 
     
     
         6 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the brackets are moveable on the load pins from one branch slot to another branch slot to change a height of the shelf unit. 
     
     
         7 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of at least one of brackets further comprises load pin removal branch, wherein the load pin removal branch defines an enlarged opening configured to allow passage of the load pin through the enlarged opening such that the load pin is separable from the bracket. 
     
     
         8 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of at least one of brackets defines three or more stopping position branch slots adjoining a main slot. 
     
     
         9 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 at least one of the load pins coupled between one of the brackets and one of the posts comprises a body and defines two or more annular grooves spaced along the body, and   the bracket engages in a first one of the annular grooves of the load pin and the corresponding post engages in a second one of the annular grooves of the load pin.   
     
     
         10 . A system for supporting a shelf unit in a display case, comprising:
 one or more shelf unit brackets coupled to a shelf unit platform of a shelf unit, at least one of the shelf unit brackets comprising a body and defining an opening having:
 a main slot; and 
 two or more stopping position branch slots adjoining the main slot; 
   one or more posts, at least one of the posts defining a set of keyholes vertically spaced from one another; and   a load pin coupled between the at least one shelf unit bracket and the at least one post, the load pin configured to engage in one of the keyholes in the at least one post and engage in one of the stopping position branch slots to at least partially support the at least one shelf unit bracket on the post.   
     
     
         11 . The system for supporting a shelf unit of  claim 10 , wherein the two or more stopping position branch slots comprise three or more stopping position branch slots adjoining the main slot. 
     
     
         12 . The system for supporting a shelf unit of  claim 10 , wherein the opening in the at least one shelf unit bracket defines a load pin removal branch. 
     
     
         13 . The system for supporting a shelf unit of  claim 10 , wherein each of at least one of the keyholes is teardrop shaped. 
     
     
         14 . The system for supporting a shelf unit of  claim 10 , wherein:
 each at least one of the keyholes defines a locking section, and   the load pin is configured to lock in the locking section when the load pin the shelf unit bracket is engaged on the load pin.   
     
     
         15 . The system for supporting a shelf unit of  claim 10 , wherein:
 at least one of the load pins coupled between one of the brackets and one of the posts comprises a body and defines two or more annular grooves spaced along the body, and   the bracket engages in a first one of the annular grooves of the load pin and the corresponding post engages in a second one of the annular grooves of the load pin.   
     
     
         16 . The system for supporting a shelf unit of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the load pin comprises a shank, a first enlarged portion, and a second enlarged portion, and   the shank is configured to engage in the opening in the at least one the shelf unit bracket and in one of the keyholes of the post between the first enlarged portion and the second enlarged portion.   
     
     
         17 . The system for supporting a shelf unit of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one shelf unit bracket is moveable on the load pin to shift the load pin from one stopping position branch slot to another stopping position branch slot to adjust the position of the shelf unit while the shelf unit remains partially supported in the display case. 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A method of repositioning a shelf unit in a display case, comprising:
 applying, when the shelf unit is in a first position and supported on a support structure on a first end and a second end of the shelf unit, a lifting force to the first end of the shelf unit such that a load pin coupled to the support structure on each of a pair of opposing sides of the shelf unit is disengaged from a first branch slot of a plurality of branch slots in a corresponding bracket of the shelf unit;   releasing the lifting force while a second end of the shelf unit is at least partially supported on the support structure; and   guiding, while second end of the shelf unit continues to be at least partially supported on the support structure, the first end of the shelf unit such that the load pin on each of the pair of opposing sides of the shelf unit is re-engaged in a second branch slot in the corresponding bracket of the shelf unit and such that the shelf unit is repositioned from the first position to a second position.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein:
 the support structure comprises first pair of posts on opposing sides of the shelf unit on the first end of the shelf unit and a second pair of posts on opposing sides of the shelf unit on the second end, and   each of the load pins is coupled to one of the posts of the first pair of posts.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the first end of the shelf unit is a front end of the shelf unit and the second end of the shelf unit is a rear end of the shelf unit. 
     
     
         23 - 66 . (canceled)