Shelving unit
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a vertical shelving unit with horizontal support members (SMs) (e.g., rails) supporting bins by their corresponding lips. The vertical shelving unit may, for example, include multiple vertical posts (VPs) defining a three-dimensional space. The VPs may, for example, include a set of SMs coupled to the VPs on opposing sides of the space. The SMs may, for example, be used to couple to the VPs on opposing sides of the space. For example, when a bin is inserted between the opposing sides, a protruding lip of the bin may be supported by the uppermost surface of the SMs. SMs may, for example, be shaped to follow a curvilinear path protruding into the space. SMs may, for example, include an upper SM connected by a truss structure to a lower SM. Various embodiments may advantageously provide a modular shelving unit that individually suspends storage bins.
1 . A vertical shelving unit comprising:
a plurality of vertical posts arranged to define a three-dimensional space;
a plurality of sets of horizontal support members, each set being coupled to the vertical posts on opposing sides of the defined space and extending towards each other into the space, wherein:
each set of horizontal support members is configured to suspend a bin by a lip of the bin when the bin is inserted between the opposing sides of the space, such that the protruding lip rests upon an uppermost surface of the horizontal support members;
the horizontal support members, of the plurality of sets of horizontal support members: a) each comprises an inner curvilinear path inward, rearward, and then outward relative to a front of the three-dimensional space and b) along at least the rearward portion of the inner curvilinear path, have a cross-sectional area with a height greater than a width; and
each horizontal member supports the bin only under the lip.
2 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein each of the horizontal support members further comprises an upper horizontal member connected by a truss structure to a lower horizontal member.
3 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein each of the horizontal support members is of a unitary construction.
4 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a desk situated between a first set of the plurality of vertical posts and a second set of the plurality of vertical posts;
a first mount coupled to a side intersecting a longitudinal direction of the desk comprising a set of coupling mechanisms, at opposing ends of the first mount, configured to couple to adjacent vertical posts of the first set of plurality of vertical posts; and
a second mount coupled to an opposing side of the desk of the first mount comprising a set of coupling mechanisms, at opposing ends of the second mount, configured to couple to adjacent vertical posts of the second set of plurality of vertical posts.
5 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a top shelf situated between a first set of the plurality of vertical posts and a second set of the plurality of vertical posts;
a first mount coupled to a side intersecting a longitudinal direction of the top shelf comprising a set of coupling mechanisms at opposing ends of the first mount, configured to couple to adjacent vertical posts of the first set of plurality of vertical posts; and
a second mount coupled to an opposing side of the top shelf of the first mount comprising a set of coupling mechanisms, at opposing ends of the second mount, configured to couple to adjacent vertical posts of the second set of plurality of vertical posts.
6 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal support members comprise a metal bent truss rail.
7 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable rail divider configured to be adjusted along a length of at least one set of support members.
8 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal support members comprise:
adjustment mechanisms on opposing ends of the horizontal support member configured to adjust the height of the horizontal support members relative to the plurality of vertical posts.
9 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the vertical shelving unit further comprises:
a rack doubler comprising opposing coupling mechanisms configured to be received by a set of shared vertical posts between a first vertical shelving unit and a second shelving unit;
a first horizontal support members further comprising an upper horizontal member connected by a truss structure to a lower horizontal member; and
a second horizontal support members further comprising an upper horizontal member connected by a truss structure to a lower horizontal member.
10 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the vertical shelving unit further comprises interlocking components configured such that a first shelving unit can be coupled to a second shelving unit.
11 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the horizontal support members are configured such that the bins can be pulled out to allow for inspection of a contents of the bins without removing bins from the vertical shelving unit.
12 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , further configured to attach to an exterior surface such that the vertical shelving unit is prevented from tipping over when bins are inserted.
13 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the horizontal support members of each of the plurality of sets of horizontal support members is directly coupled to the plurality of vertical posts on the opposing sides of the three-dimensional space.
14 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the lip, of a bin of the plurality of bins, extends laterally outward from an upper edge of the bin.
15 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of bins further comprise lids.
16 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of bins have solid walls.
17 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , further comprises wheels and/or casters.
18 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , further comprises a shelf comprising at least one of the plurality of sets of transverse support members.
19 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein each set of the plurality of sets of horizontal support members comprises a maximum of two horizontal support members.
20 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of vertical posts comprises at least four vertical posts defining the three-dimensional space and positioned at four corners of a rectangle.
21 . The vertical shelving unit of claim 1 , wherein the width of the cross-sectional area of a horizontal support member of the plurality of sets of horizontal support members is less than a distance from the horizontal support member to an innermost surface of at least one vertical post to which the horizontal support member is coupled.