Shelving system

Abstract

A shelving system comprises a plurality of vertical supports, one or more horizontal supports attached to a respective vertical support, and a shelving substrate attached to the horizontal supports. The horizontal supports can be adapted to extend from a folded or partially extended position to a fully extended, horizontal position and can comprise a proximal support arm attached to a vertical support and a distal support arm pivotally attached to the proximal support arm. To retain the proximal support arm and the distal support arm in the fully extended, horizontal position, the horizontal supports can comprise a catch assembly. The shelving substrate can be a textile material, such as a weft inserted, warp knit textile material comprising elastomeric yarns.

1 . A shelving system comprising:
 (a) a plurality of vertical supports,   (b) a plurality of horizontal supports, each horizontal support being connected to a respective vertical support, the horizontal supports comprising a proximal support arm attached to a vertical support and a distal support arm pivotally attached to the proximal support arm, the horizontal supports being adapted to extended from a folded position to a fully extended, horizontal position, and   (c) a textile shelving substrate attached to the horizontal supports.   
   
   
       2 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the shelving substrate comprises a posterior portion attached to the proximal support arm of each horizontal support and an anterior portion attached to the distal support arm of each horizontal support. 
   
   
       3 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the horizontal supports further comprise a catch assembly adapted to retain the proximal support arm and the distal support arm in the fully extended, horizontal position. 
   
   
       4 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the catch assembly comprises (i) a first catch arm attached to the distal support arm, the first catch arm having a distal end and a recess thereon, and (ii) a second catch arm attached to the proximal support arm, the second catch arm having a distal end and a recess thereon, wherein, when the catch assembly is engaged, the distal end of the first catch arm is adapted to engage the recess in the second catch arm and the distal end of the second catch arm is adapted to engage the recess in the first catch arm. 
   
   
       5 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the textile shelving substrate comprises elastomeric yarns. 
   
   
       6 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the textile shelving substrate comprises a warp knit, weft inserted textile material, and the textile material comprises a knit matrix formed by a plurality of knit yarns, a plurality of elastomeric yarns disposed within the knit matrix and in the warp direction of the matrix, and a plurality of non-elastomeric yarns disposed within the knit matrix and in the weft direction of the matrix. 
   
   
       7 . The shelving system of  claim 6 , wherein the non-elastomeric yarns comprise polyester yarns. 
   
   
       8 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the shelving substrate is attached to the horizontal supports under tension. 
   
   
       9 . The shelving system of  claim 1 , wherein the textile substrate comprises a phthalocyanine, naphthalocyanine, or metallophthalocyanine compound.