Shelf with retaining wall

Abstract

A shelf of the present invention includes a plate member, a band, and a plurality of posts, which are mounted to the plate member. Each of the posts includes a slot that receives the band and supports the band to form a fence around at least a portion of the plate member.

I claim;  
     
         1 . A shelf comprising: 
 a plate member;    a band; and    a plurality of posts mounted to said plate member, each of said posts including a slot, said slots receiving said band and supporting said band to form a fence around at least a portion of said plate member.    
     
     
         2 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate member has a plurality of openings, and said posts include proximal ends and distal ends, said proximal ends positioned in said openings, and said slots extending into said distal ends.  
     
     
         3 . The shelf according to  claim 2 , wherein said posts include caps, said caps mounted on said distal ends over said slots to thereby retain said band in said slots of said posts.  
     
     
         4 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said posts comprise cylindrical pins.  
     
     
         5 . The shelf according to  claim 2 , wherein said openings comprise through-holes extending through said plate member.  
     
     
         6 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate member comprises a circular plate.  
     
     
         7 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate member comprises a pie-shaped plate.  
     
     
         8 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate member comprises a wood plate.  
     
     
         9 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said band comprises a metal band.  
     
     
         10 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said posts comprise metal posts.  
     
     
         11 . The shelf according to  claim 10 , wherein said metal posts comprise aluminum posts.  
     
     
         12 . The shelf according to  claim 1 , wherein said plate member includes a through-hole extending there through for receiving a center post.  
     
     
         13 . The shelf according to  claim 2 , wherein said plate member includes a perimeter portion, said plurality of openings spaced along said perimeter portion wherein said band forms a perimeter fence.  
     
     
         14 . The shelf according to  claim 2 , wherein each of said posts includes a base portion and a projecting portion, each of said base portions positioned in a respective opening and having a smaller diameter than their respective projecting portion.  
     
     
         15 . The shelf according to  claim 14 , wherein each of said projecting portion rests on said plate member around a respective opening of said plate member.  
     
     
         16 . A rotatable shelf assembly comprising: 
 a center post; and    at least one shelf mounted to said center post, said shelf comprising:    a plate member; a band; and    a plurality of posts mounted to said plate member, each of said posts including a slot, said slots receiving said band and supporting said band to form a fence around at least a portion of said plate member.    
     
     
         17 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said plate member includes a plurality of openings, said fence posts including proximal ends and distal ends, said proximal ends positioned in said openings, and said slots extending into said distal ends.  
     
     
         18 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said fence posts include caps, said caps mounted on said distal ends over said slots to thereby retain said band in said slots of said fence posts.  
     
     
         19 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 18 , wherein said fence posts comprise cylindrical pins.  
     
     
         20 . The shelf according to  claim 16  wherein said plate member comprises a circular plate.  
     
     
         21 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said plate member comprises a wood plate.  
     
     
         22 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said band comprises a metal band.  
     
     
         23 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said fence posts comprise metal posts.  
     
     
         24 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said plate member includes a through-hole extending therethrough, said center post extending through said through hole.  
     
     
         25 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein said through hole comprises a center through-hole located generally at a center of said plate member.  
     
     
         26 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein said band comprises a plurality of band segments.  
     
     
         27 . A rotatable shelf assembly comprising: 
 a center post;    a hub assembly; and    at least one shelf mounted to said center post by said hub assembly, said hub assembly having a base and a collar projecting from said base and extending through said shelf, said collar rotatably engaging said center post and being adapted to tighten about said center post to minimize vibration of said shelf when said shelf is rotated about said center post.    
     
     
         28 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein said base includes a projecting flange, said projecting flange mounted to said shelf.  
     
     
         29 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 27 , wherein collar includes a least two portions and means for compressing said two portions to tighten said collar about said center post.  
     
     
         30 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 29 , wherein said means for compressing comprises a ring.  
     
     
         31 . The shelf assembly according to  claim 30 , wherein said portions are threaded, and said ring comprises a threaded ring.