Modular shelving assembly
View Patent ↗A modular shelving assembly for use in a vehicle, including a cargo space at least partially defined by a floor and a side wall of the vehicle, includes at least two interconnected upright assemblies. Each of the upright assemblies includes a first panel, a second panel, and a coupler member separate from and unitizing the first and second panels. The modular shelving assembly further includes a rail secured to one of the floor and the side wall to which at least one of the interconnected upright assemblies is anchored.
1. A modular shelving assembly for use in a vehicle including a cargo space at least partially defined by a floor and a side wall of the vehicle, the shelving assembly comprising:
at least two interconnected upright assemblies, each including
a first panel,
a second panel, and
a coupler member separate from and unitizing the first and second panels; and
a rail secured to one of the floor and the side wall to which at least one of the interconnected upright assemblies is anchored;
wherein the rail is a first rail secured to the floor, and wherein the modular shelving assembly further includes a second rail secured to the side wall to which at least one of the interconnected upright assemblies is anchored;
wherein each of the first and second rails includes a channel, and wherein the shelving assembly further includes:
a first fastener extending from the first rail and having a head slidably received within the channel of the first rail, and
a second fastener extending from the second rail and having a head slidably received within the channel of the second rail.
2. The modular shelving assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first bracket secured to the first rail by the first fastener, wherein the first bracket is also secured to at least one of the upright assemblies, thereby anchoring the upright assembly to the vehicle floor.
3. The modular shelving assembly of claim 2 , wherein the two upright assemblies are positioned side by side within the vehicle cargo space, and wherein the first bracket is secured to both of the upright assemblies, thereby anchoring the upright assemblies to the vehicle floor and interconnecting the upright assemblies to each other.
4. The modular shelving assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first bracket includes first and second flanges, respectively, to which the two upright assemblies are fastened.
5. The modular shelving assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first bracket includes first and second flanges both fastened to one of the upright assemblies.
6. The modular shelving assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first bracket includes a slot through which the first fastener extends, wherein the slot is elongated in a length dimension of the first rail, thereby permitting the first bracket to be adjustable relative to the first rail along the length of the first rail.
7. The modular shelving assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a second bracket secured to the second rail by the second fastener, wherein the second bracket is also secured to at least one of the upright assemblies, thereby anchoring the upright assembly to the vehicle side wall.
8. The modular shelving assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a cargo supporting member interconnecting the at least two upright assemblies.
9. The modular shelving assembly of claim 8 , wherein the cargo supporting member is configured as one of a drawer, a shelf, and a rack.
10. The modular shelving assembly of claim 9 , wherein the cargo supporting member is configured as a drawer, and wherein the modular shelving assembly further includes a shelf interconnecting the at least two upright assemblies.
11. The modular shelving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the coupler member unitizes the first and second panels in an end-to-end configuration.
12. The modular shelving assembly of claim 11 , wherein at least two of the interconnected upright assemblies further includes
a third panel, and
a second coupler member unitizing the second and third panels in an end-to-end configuration.
13. The modular shelving assembly of claim 11 , wherein the coupler member is configured as an I-beam.
14. The modular shelving assembly of claim 11 , wherein the coupler member is configured as a C-channel.
15. The modular shelving assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the upright assemblies includes
a first vertical support channel extending along a first edge of the first panel and a first edge of the second panel, and
a second vertical support channel extending along a second edge of the first panel and a second edge of the second panel.
16. The modular shelving assembly of claim 15 , wherein the first and second vertical support channels are fastened to the first and second panels, thereby unitizing the first and second panels.
17. The modular shelving assembly of claim 15 , wherein the coupler member is one of the first and second vertical support channels.
18. The modular shelving assembly of claim 1 , wherein the at least two upright assemblies comprise first and second upright assemblies, wherein the modular shelving assembly further includes third and fourth interconnected upright assemblies, each of which is substantially identical to the first and second upright assemblies, and wherein at least one of the third and fourth upright assemblies is anchored to the rail.
19. The modular shelving assembly of claim 18 , wherein the first and second upright assemblies comprise a first cabinet, and wherein the third and fourth upright assemblies comprise a second cabinet oriented substantially transversely to the first cabinet.