Bookshelf system

Abstract

A modular bookshelf system is disclosed. The bookshelf system comprises a top shelf, at least one intermediate shelf, a base shelf, and a plurality of modular side walls. The plurality of side walls are slidingly supported and slidingly engaged between the base shelf and the at least one intermediate shelf and between the top shelf and the at least one intermediate shelf. Each of the plurality of side walls comprises a generally vertical end wall and back wall, and is configured to slidingly engage with and adjust along a plurality of lengthwise slots formed in each of the top shelf, bottom shelf, and at least one intermediate shelf.

1 . A bookshelf system comprising:
 a base comprising a base shelf and a pedestal, the base shelf having a first longitudinal slot formed along a rear portion and the pedestal comprising at least two lateral supports;   a first pair of risers, each riser of the first pair comprising a back wall and a side wall, the back wall comprising a first longitudinal tab projecting downwardly along a bottom edge and a second longitudinal tab projecting upwardly along a top edge, the first tab slidingly engaged in the first slot, the first pair of risers slidingly supported by the base shelf;   a top shelf having a second longitudinal slot formed along a rear portion, the second slot slidingly receiving the second tab of each of the first pair of risers, the top shelf slidingly supported by the first pair of risers.   
   
   
       2 . The bookshelf system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 at least one intermediate shelf having a third longitudinal slot formed along an upper face towards a rear portion of the intermediate shelf and a fourth longitudinal slot formed along a lower face towards the rear portion of the intermediate shelf, the fourth slot slidingly receiving the second tab of each of the first pair of risers, the intermediate shelf slidingly supported by the first pair of risers; and   a second pair of risers, each riser of the second pair comprising a back wall and a side wall, the back wall comprising a third longitudinal tab projecting downwardly along a bottom edge and a fourth longitudinal tab projecting upwardly along a top edge, the third tab slidingly engaged in the third slot, the second pair of risers slidingly supported by the intermediate shelf, the top shelf second slot slidingly receiving the fourth tab of each of the second pair of risers, the top shelf slidingly supported by the second pair of risers.   
   
   
       3 . The bookshelf system of  claim 2  further comprising one or more additional intermediate shelves and one or more additional pairs of risers. 
   
   
       5 . The bookshelf system of  claim 1  wherein the base and top shelves each include a safety margin at either end of the first and second slots between the end of each first and second slot and a respective side edge of the base and top shelves. 
   
   
       6 . The bookshelf system of  claim 5  wherein the back wall of each riser includes a safety offset at an outside end of the first and second tabs between the end of each first and second tab and an outside edge of the back wall, the safety margins and safety offsets being approximately equal. 
   
   
       7 . The bookshelf system of  claim 1  wherein each riser side wall has a double-locking female joint aligned vertically along a rear edge and each riser back wall has a double-locking male joint aligned vertically along a rear edge, the double-locking male joint slidibly engagable in the double-locking female joint. 
   
   
       8 . The bookshelf system of  claim 1  wherein each of the at least two lateral supports has a taper from a front side to a back side such that each lateral support is taller at the front side than at the back side. 
   
   
       9 . The bookshelf system of  claim 1  wherein the taper has an angle in the range of about 1 degree to about 12 degrees. 
   
   
       10 . The bookshelf system of  claim 1  wherein each of the first pair of risers is slidably adjustable from a first position with the side wall flush with an outer edge of the base shelf to a second position with an inside edge of the back wall generally aligned with a midpoint of the base shelf. 
   
   
       11 . The bookshelf system of  claim 10  wherein the second position is limited by a safety stop, the safety stop formed in the first or second slot to limit inward adjustability of each riser. 
   
   
       12 . A modular bookshelf comprising:
 a top shelf;   at least one intermediate shelf;   a base shelf;   a plurality of modular side walls slidingly supported and slidingly engaged between the base shelf and the at least one intermediate shelf and between the top shelf and the at least one intermediate shelf, each of the plurality of side walls comprising a generally vertical end wall and back wall, and configured to slidingly engage with and adjust along a plurality of lengthwise slots formed in each of the top shelf, bottom shelf, and at least one intermediate shelf.   
   
   
       13 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 1  wherein the bookshelf is assembled without fasteners. 
   
   
       14 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  further comprising an adjustable back stop to prevent objects from falling behind the bookshelf. 
   
   
       15 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of lateral safety stops to prevent the plurality of side walls from adjusting beyond an outer edge of the bookshelf. 
   
   
       16 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  further comprising a plurality of safety components attached to the bookshelf to prevent accidental separation or accidental tip-over. 
   
   
       17 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  wherein each of the plurality of side walls comprises an end wall and back wall slidingly coupled with a double-locking joint. 
   
   
       18 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of side walls are freely configurable between inside and outside positions. 
   
   
       19 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of side walls comprises a first pair of side walls having a first height and a second pair of side walls having a second height different than the first height. 
   
   
       20 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  further comprising at least first and second intermediate shelves, the first intermediate shelf having a first depth and the second intermediate shelf having a second depth different from the first depth. 
   
   
       21 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  wherein the base shelf comprises a tapered pedestal, the tapered pedestal having an angle such that a rear edge of the top shelf rests against a wall when the base shelf is about two inches from the wall with about six feet between the top shelf and the base shelf. 
   
   
       22 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 12  wherein the base shelf comprises a non-tapered pedestal allowing the bookshelf to be freestanding. 
   
   
       23 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 17  wherein the double-locking joint comprises a female portion having at least two retaining grooves and a male portion having at least two tongues. 
   
   
       24 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 23  wherein the double-locking joint prevents angular separation and permits sliding engagement. 
   
   
       25 . The modular bookshelf of  claim 24  wherein the end wall and back wall of each of the plurality of side walls are maintained in a perpendicular relationship to each other by the double-locking joint.