Basket / bin free-standing shelving system

Abstract

In accordance with one aspect of the disclosure, a modular free-standing shelving system having a basket is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of risers having a first end and a second end and at least one shelf having a plurality of ends, a plurality of sides, and a plurality of sockets. The ends and sides of the shelf encompass an area including a plurality of walls and a recessed surface. The walls connect the recessed surface to the ends and sides, which comprises a majority of a surface area of the shelf.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A modular free-standing shelving system comprising: 
 a plurality of risers having a first end and a second end; and    at least one shelf having a perimeter and a plurality of sockets, wherein the perimeter encompasses an area including a recessed surface, the recessed surface comprised of at least part of a surface area of the shelf, thereby creating a basket in the shelf.    
     
     
         2 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of risers include short risers.  
     
     
         3 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of risers include short risers and full-length risers.  
     
     
         4 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the at least one shelf is constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.  
     
     
         5 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of risers are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.  
     
     
         6 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein walls are perforated.  
     
     
         7 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sockets are adapted to engage with the plurality of risers.  
     
     
         8 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein an upper portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the second end of the plurality of risers.  
     
     
         9 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein a lower portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the first end of the plurality of risers.  
     
     
         10 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the first end and the second end of the risers are interchangeable.  
     
     
         11 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein an upper portion and a lower portion of the plurality of sockets are each adapted to receive the first end or the second end of the plurality of risers.  
     
     
         12 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein an upper portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the second end of the plurality or risers, and a lower portion of the plurality of sockets is adapted to receive the first end of the plurality or risers.  
     
     
         13 . A modular free-standing shelving system comprising: 
 a plurality of short risers each having a first end and a second end;    a plurality of full-length risers each having a first end and a second end; and    a first and second shelf, wherein the shelves include a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and a plurality of sockets having an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ends and sides encompass an area including at least one inclined wall and a recessed surface, the recessed surface comprising a majority of a surface area of the shelf, and the at least one inclined wall connecting the recessed surface to the ends and sides, thereby creating a basket,    the first end of the plurality of short risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the sockets of the first shelf and the second end of the plurality of short risers adapted to abut a ground surface, and    the first end of the plurality of full-length risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the sockets of the second shelf and the second end of the plurality of full-length risers being adapted to engage with the upper portion of the sockets of the first shelf.    
     
     
         14 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 13  wherein the shelves are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.  
     
     
         15 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 13  wherein the plurality of risers are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.  
     
     
         16 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 13  wherein the at least one wall is perforated.  
     
     
         17 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 13  wherein the first end and the second end of the risers are interchangeable.  
     
     
         18 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 13  wherein an upper portion and the lower portion of the plurality of sockets are each adapted to receive the first end and the second end of the plurality of risers.  
     
     
         19 . A modular free-standing shelving system comprising: 
 four short risers having a first end and a second end;    at least four full-length risers each having a first end and a second end; and    at least a first and a second shelf, wherein the shelves include a first end, a second end, a first side, a second side, and four sockets each with an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the ends and sides of at least one of the first and second shelves encompass a shelf surface area that includes a plurality of inclined walls supporting a surface that is recessed below a height defined by a top edge of the inclined walls, the recessed surface comprising a majority of the shelf surface area, and the plurality of walls connecting the recessed surface to the ends and sides, thereby creating a basket;    the first end of the four short risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the four sockets of the first shelf and the second end of the plurality of short risers being adapted to abut a ground surface on which the shelving system is supported,    the first end of the at least four full-length risers being adapted to engage with the lower portion of the four sockets of the second shelf and the second end of the at least four full-length risers being adapted to engage with the upper portion of the four sockets of the first shelf.    
     
     
         20 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 17  wherein the shelves are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.  
     
     
         21 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 17  wherein the short and full-length risers are constructed from one of polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene material.  
     
     
         22 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 17  wherein the plurality of inclined walls are perforated.  
     
     
         23 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 17  wherein the first end and the second end of the risers are interchangeable.  
     
     
         24 . The modular free-standing shelving system of  claim 1  wherein the upper portion and a lower portion of the sockets are each adapted to receive the first end and the second end of the four short risers and the at least four full-length risers.