Shelving System With Rotational Functionality

Abstract

The present disclosure provides enhanced storage systems that facilitate efficient storage of, and access to, a variety of items and products. Exemplary systems according to the present disclosure include mechanism(s) that permit reliable and efficient repositioning of one or more shelves, thereby enhancing utilization and efficiencies associated therewith. Shelving systems according to the present disclosure facilitate synchronized vertical motion of shelving units, e.g., based on coordinated pulley/cable systems, and advantageously include spring designs that facilitate controlled vertical motion of shelving units, e.g., based on fluid movement and/or discharge from the spring design. Rotational motion of the shelves relative to a stationary rod may be provided. Shelving units may be readily repositioned at elbow or eye level, and repositioned at their respective initial positions in an efficient and advantageous manner. The shelving systems may be original manufacture units or may be designed for use in retrofitting existing shelving systems.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE[0001]1. Technical Field[0002]The present disclosure relates to enhanced storage systems, and more particularly to storage systems that facilitate efficient storage of, and access to, a variety of items and products. Exemplary systems according to the present disclosure include mechanism(s) that permit reliable and efficient repositioning of one or more shelves, thereby enhancing utilization and efficiencies associated therewith.[0003]2. Background Art[0004]Shelves and shelf systems are widely used for displaying and storing items. Sometimes shelves are contained within cabinets, armoires, closets, etc., while in other applications, e.g., supermarket and book shelves, the shelving units are free-standing and are constructed to facilitate access to items stored thereon. In designing shelving systems, designers must ensure system stability while, to the extent possible, providing efficient access to stored items.[0005]The height to which a stack of shelves ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0020]These and other objects are achieved by the shelf system of the present invention, which includes two or more shelves in a stack arrangement mounted to uprights. The uprights include one or more shelf support members which support the shelves. One or more of the shelves are movable out from the shelf stack, either by way of a telescoping support member, or otherwise, to permit movement of such shelf or shelves to or past a lower shelf. The movable stack of shelves are generally connected such that outward movement of one shelf effects a corresponding movement of the other shelf (or shelves). After an upper shelf or shelves are moved vertically to or past a lower shelf, the upper shelf or shelves may be moved back into alignment with the lower shelf. In this arrangement, the upper shelf or shelves can thereby become positioned below the lower shelf. This permits easy access to the upper shelf or shelves.

Problems solved by technology

The height to which a stack of shelves can extend is typically limited by the reach of a person of average size.

The use of such tools, however, can be inefficient and, in some cases, can contribute to dangerous conditions.

For example, people may be injured from falls off of stepladders and / or footstools.

Likewise, the use of reach poles can result in inadvertent knocking and / or dislodging of the desired item or an adjacent item from the shelf.

In such circumstances, item(s) may be broken or, worse yet, item(s) may fall from the upper shelf, potentially string and injuring the person using the reach pole or another person in the vicinity thereof.

In addition, such tools are typically a nuisance to have about, can lead to injuries merely by tripping a person, and are frequently misplaced or not readily available for use.

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